Our members are initially focusing on five areas with strong market potential. We will expand our focus as market conditions evolve and as new members bring additional capabilities and expertise.
1. Computing Experience
The Opportunity
As the lines between high-bandwidth wireline and wireless connectivity blur in a 4G and LTE world, vast amounts of information and computing resources will become available to users any time, anywhere. ng Connect members are focusing on exploiting this opportunity by accelerating the development of simple, low-cost devices coupled with applications and services that will give users extreme virtual processing power and ubiquitous access to multimedia and information. Because Computing Experience innovations have the potential to transform how we all work and play, they will also play a role in other ng Connect Focus Areas such as Automotive Connectivity, Digital Signage, and Consumer Media and Entertainment.
2. Automotive Connectivity
The Opportunity
The must-have option for your next car probably won’t be a sunroof or leather seats—it will probably be LTE-enabled applications for safety and security, diagnostics, convenience, navigation and infotainment. You’ll be able to access these applications not just from your vehicle, but also from your home or cell phone.
This is the vision driving ng Connect’s engagement with leading automotive makers and suppliers. Together we’re leveraging mobile connectivity to create a whole new world of possibility for drivers.
3. Digital Signage
The Opportunity
Digital signage—in which self-contained jumbo screens replace traditional outdoor billboards, and interactive poster to pc-sized screens are used indoors—is an exciting new medium for precisely targeting consumers efficiently and cost-effectively. LTE and 4G technologies make it possible to remotely update content that can be pushed not only to digital signs, but also to mobile devices. In combination with other real-time, interactive technologies such as mobile enhanced reality (MER) for previewing and purchasing items of interest, and location-based messaging for customizing offers, digital signage can generate new revenue streams while leveraging existing assets for both network operators and service providers. Businesses can increase revenues by deploying new interactive push marketing services, while advertising and marketing agencies can develop powerful new targeting tools to offer to their client base for specialized marketing.
4. Enterprise Collaboration and e-Healthcare
The Opportunity
Mobile enterprise services and applications enabled by LTE and 4G have the potential to lower costs and increase profitability, reduce carbon footprints, and improve quality of experience for employees, clients and other business partners. With technologies such as OFDM, IP and MIMO supporting very-high bandwidth and low-latency services, mobile enterprise users will be able to access all of their business information and tools from any device, in any location, and collaborate and interact in new ways with both people and systems. The result will be lower costs, increased efficiency and a reduced need for business travel. ng Connect members are initially focusing on e-healthcare, real-time business collaboration, and remote learning.
5. Consumer Media and Entertainment
The Opportunity
Consumers are demanding anywhere, anytime entertainment and social networking experiences, and LTE, 4G wireless and ultra-high bandwidth wireline technologies will make this possible. Spanning both user-generated and professionally-generated content, particularly video, next generation applications and services will allow consumers to access, purchase, create, and share content across any network, on virtually any device. The revenue potential in this market is immense—it is forecast that by 2011, 90% of all consumer electronics will be broadband enabled.
