Hello again from Las Vegas. It has been exciting to take a close look at all the new touchscreen 3G smartphones from BlackBerry, HTC (Google Android), LG, Samsung, and more. They certainly provide a very attractive and rewarding development environment for Premiere Global and will enable us to deliver enhanced mobile applications to our customers.
Here is a quick update from this morning’s keynotes:
- Clearwire gave an update on their progress to spread their 4G WiMAX network to North America. They launched their new Clear Spot device which creates a personal WiFI hotspot anywhere they have coverage with 4MBs downloads. I’ve been following Clearwire closely as they were founded by Craig McCaw…the same guy who founded AT&T Wireless and provided the investment infusion to Nextel to help them become a dominant US carrier (before they were acquired by Sprint in 2005). Keep an eye on Clearwire, they are going places…including launching their service in Atlanta this year.
- Dr. Eric Topol of the Scripps Translational Science Institute gave a phenomenal presentation on the latest advanced for wireless medical devices. One device in particular caught my attention. It is a “smart bandage” device that you can wear for up to a week that monitors all of your cardiovascular vital signs remotely (check out Cardionet and Triage Wireless). This struck a deeply personal note as my father passed away one year ago due to a stroke from complications caused by atrial fibrillation (aka heart flutter). These new devices are able to provide up to the second data to doctors and patients that can very well mean the difference between life and death. This is when technology and innovation far surpass their value beyond growing shareholder value, and contribute immensely to improving the human condition.
- Microsoft had some nice demos on the new Windows Mobile 6.5, but with the above note weighing on me, I’ll let you check them out yourself here.
All of the latest wireless developments are really building on the value of critical, real-time communications, something we’ve been working on and providing since 1991.
Best wishes,
Peter
Tags: clearwire, microsoft, mobile, wimax, wireless, wireless medical
WIMAX may have been too slow to deploy here in the US. Delays in getting mobile WIMAX working and in roll out schedules have allowed LTE to catch up prompting most major Wireless carriers to plan for an evolution to LTE instead of WIMAX. Clearwire will likely have opportunties as a niche player in large markets, however, as a technology I fear WiMAX may have missed its window. In a any event wirele broadband will be a HUGE advancement for mobile workers particularly for opportuties to really leverage collaboration tools (such as conferencing) when away from “the office”.
I am not at CTIA this year so if anyone is seeing things there that suggest I am off the mark on this, I would love to hear about it. As a compnay that makes its living deploying wireless infrastructure for carriers, I am keenly interested in what will likely be the next big technology. (and Peter, thanks for the CTIA reports!)
It is really good to see PGi keeping up to speed with the changes in the mobility marketplace. The ability to support the desires of the marketplace and how people are conducting business is really important.
Also, speaking of real-time services, Nokia launched their Point & Find service in the U.S. and U.K. It uses captured images to look up and return relevant information about the subject. Works for pictures and bar-codes (no NFC) needed.
Man, technology is really moving forwards and the applications for something like this are endless.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/01/nokias-point-and-find-service-makes-reality-better/