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Wireless Influencers 2009 is organized into nine distinct tracks, which are listed below. Each track represents an event theme and an interest area for our community, based on extensive diligence and feedback.
Overall, the purpose of the track format is to facilitate continued, escalated dialogue within the community on an interest area. Each track is comprised of between two and four 60-minute sessions that take place over the course of the two-day event. Examples of session formats include roundtable and boardroom discussions, profile presentations, and "unscripted" town hall meetings. Approximately 25 to 75 attendees participate in each session. Any attendee can participate in any session.
The world of mobile services and innovation is no longer driven by operators alone, but by a new and shifting ecosystem of telecom and cable operators, device manufacturers, software platform providers, and content and application developers. The emergence of this new order has generated opportunities and uncertainties for each member of that value chain, and multiple players are vying for similar positions, strategies, and partnerships in order to build and maximize long-term economic share. What will the future mobile world order look like, and what will define success and failure for the players in it?
The defining topic for wireless in 2009 (so far) has been mobile applications. The launch of new devices, stores, and platforms has spawned a new era of application innovation and a new generation of mobile application developers. Critical issues, however, face the ecosystem: importantly, how can developers make real money and which platforms are most likely to survive? This track will start with a session where application developers provide their perspective to the ecosystem on what is working and what is not.
Can media companies develop content from the consumer perspective first (i.e., content that seamlessly bridges consumer experiences across all platforms)? And, can that content result in meaningful new revenue streams? This track will take the perspective of global media companies, with offerings across out-of-home, print, broadcast, online, mobile, and other platforms.
Monetizing mobile media is a challenge for the mobile ecosystem, particularly in the current economic climate where consumers and advertisers both are reluctant to pay. Further, mobile is still a nascent platform and business models are still generally unproven and experimental. In mobile, media companies are also looking to avoid many of the mistakes made in online, where consumer expectations of "for free" continue to cripple media company economics. How can mobile media companies best meet (or exceed) their revenue goals, even for the next 12 months?
A generational shift in mobile devices is occurring. Smartphones are taking on substantially greater roles and capabilities, and new categories of mobile Internet devices are emerging, with form factors between smartphones and notebooks. Questions remain, though, about how many devices consumers will carry and which will have mass vs. niche market roles. Further, what about featurephones? Will they return to the forefront of the industry in coming years?
The intersection of mobile and other industries is creating tremendous new business opportunities. These "Mobile+" sessions will explore the new markets and services made possible from the collaboration between wireless carriers and companies in industries such as healthcare, automotive, and energy. This track will include executives from non-wireless industries so that the relevant ecosystems can better understand needs, create compelling services, and forge meaningful partnerships.
Mobile financial services will reshape the daily lifestyle of consumers and daily operations of companies. Service possibilities range from person-to-person payments and international remittances to point-of-sale payments and mobile banking information and transactions. Cases of potential uses include almost every situation where people and companies view and exchange money, in both the online and the physical world. The question for mobile money, though, is which services and which regions represent the greatest near-term opportunities?
Emerging markets represent a frontier not only for subscriber growth but also for service and business model innovation. Often, though, the innovations and lessons learned from emerging markets are unexplored and unexploited in developed markets. This track will allow global carriers and content providers-from both established and emerging markets-to learn from each other. What are innovative services and technologies in each? What are the most effective ways to bridge needs and requirements?
This track represents a new approach and engagement model for Wireless Influencers. It will consist of sessions proposed and conducted by audience members. Topics, formats, and speakers will be designed and programmed by the community, creating an open source avenue for idea creation and collaboration among participants. Please submit session ideas to openprogramming@wi09.com.
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