Wi-Fi has truly come of age as a viable means to connect mobile devices to the Internet. The past four blogs in this series have highlighted some of the key findings of a recent survey of U.S. mobile users by Cisco’s Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG). Our survey uncovered some startling revelations about what consumers are doing on their mobile devices, how and where they are using them, and how they are connecting them to the Internet.

The majority of devices are now Wi-Fi-enabled, and the fastest-growing category is “nomadic” devices such as tablets and eReaders. We now need to speak of the “mobile home,” as the home is by far the most popular location for consumers to use their mobile devices. Surprisingly, Wi-Fi is the network connection of choice for most consumers for all of their devices, but they would like to see Wi-Fi more seamlessly integrated with mobile networks. When they are not at home, mobile users are increasingly expecting public hotspots to provide Wi-Fi connectivity to these devices. While service providers are beginning to realize that they need to deploy Wi-Fi networks, our research clearly shows that there are viable monetization opportunities in mobile data off-load, customer retention, and new and innovative business models.

While it is never easy to foresee the future, here are five predictions for key changes in the mobile industry over the next two years as an outcome of the Cisco IBSG research: Read More »

Tags: Cisco, devices, eReaders; future predictions, IBSG, mobile, research, Service Provider, Smartphones, survey, tablet PCs, Tablets, wi-fi

Collaboration is in vogue! Companies across multiple industries are implementing a variety of process changes, systems, and tools to improve collaboration among their employees.

While these companies recognize the potential of collaboration, most have captured and quantified benefits only in relatively mundane areas such as reduced travel costs and time-related savings. Read More »

Tags: Cisco, collaboration, IBSG, knowledge work, lean techniques, productivity, visual workplace

There was a time when making good products was sufficient to succeed in the business world, but that is no longer the case. While making good products (or services)—things that people want and value, of a quality they expect and at a price point they are willing to pay—remains essential to the value proposition, it’s just table stakes today. What customers want are “experiences.”

So what is an “experience,” and why are customers’ expectations of that experience different from those of the past? Read More »

Tags: Cisco, customer, customer experience, expectations, experience, hyperconnected, hyperconnectivity, IBSG, perceptions, social media

The insatiable demand for smartphones, tablets, and other connected devices is generating staggering amounts of mobile data. As my previous blogs discussed, the use of Wi-Fi for Internet access is exploding as more mobile devices are Wi-Fi-enabled, the number of public hotspots expands, and user acceptance grows. Service providers (SPs) now realize Wi-Fi must be an important part of their strategy to manage growing data loads on their networks and meet increased customer expectations. While operators are learning to accept the role of Wi-Fi, they still struggle with ways to turn a “cost of doing business” into profitable business models. The Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG) has consulted with leading SPs from around the world about new, innovative Wi-Fi business models that can provide a reasonable return on investment (ROI), as outlined in our paper, “Profiting From the Rise of Wi-Fi.”

To learn more about what consumers are doing with their mobile devices, and to test their response to the new Wi-Fi business models, Cisco IBSG recently conducted a survey of U.S. mobile users. Following are our top three findings related to monetization of Wi-Fi: Read More »

Tags: Cisco, devices, ereaders, IBSG, mobile, research, Service Provider, Smartphones, survey, tablet PCs, Tablets, wi-fi

More than 1600 delegates convened at the 2012 Every Building Conference & Expo two weeks ago in Seattle, hosted by Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International. The conference gathered some of the industry’s best minds and biggest investors for three packed days of learning opportunities aimed at professionals representing all types of buildings.

As a BOMA Cornerstone Partner, Cisco participated in three sessions during the conference, each of which focused on the role of technology innovation in shaping the future of the real estate industry.  There’s good news coming out of Seattle: Connectivity is, thankfully, no longer building specific; it’s now all about the connectivity of neighborhoods and cities. Read More »

Tags: 2012 Every Building Conference & Expo, BOMA, Cisco, Commercial Real Estate, emerging technology, energy savings, high-performance space, IBSG, innovation, network as the 4th utility, next-generation buildings, real estate industry, smart+connected cities, smart+connected real estate, Sustainability, urban community