MOBILE was the most vibrant, well attended track out of four at the annual government-industry Executive Leadership Conference in Williamsburg earlier this month. Almost 900 people from the IT community met to discuss how to execute on their missions with budget cuts looming. The consensus was: INNOVATION and WIRELESS.
“Wireless is the horizon industry for every industry. It is where every industry will go.”
-Mr. Blair Levin, Aspen Institute
Field of Dreams
Mr. Levin was involved with the 2009 FCC-led transition from analog to digital for TV stations, which freed up the 4G spectrum. This was in time for the explosion of tablets like the iPad and smartphones. “If we had not done that, there would not be the fields to build on,” said Levin.
How fast is mobile adoption moving?
“51% of Americans use smartphones and social media,” said Gwynne Kostin, Co-Director, Mobility, GSA.
“Over the past four years, there has been an 8,000% growth in data bits over mobile,” said Jeff Mohan, Executive Director, AT&T Government Solutions. He continued, “The average smartphone generates 10x the traffic of a regular phone.”
Key points to consider in your mobile strategy, according to the panel, are:
- Ensure a good starting place via a clean, meaningful solution architecture.
- Ensure your solution architecture looks at 6 critical areas: device, application, data, connectivity, security management and supporting infrastructure.
- Remember business is your focus. Set short-term deliverables within a long-term roadmap. Mobility serves the business case and the mission.
The Future of Mobile
“Three years hence,” asked moderator Tom Suder, president of Mobile Government Solutions of the panel, “what is your mobility prediction or wish?”
“Gestures. Move things across a white board like the Xbox Kinect games so we are not tethered to keyboards or desktops. We are closer to collaboration,” explained Gwynne Kostin.
“A national plan that eliminates paper,” Mr. Levin said.
“When you ask a question, it pops up on your iPad with a video of an expert. You can ask him a question; he can respond or point me to someone who can,” said Jeff Mohan, Executive Director, AT&T Government Solutions
“Business anywhere, anyplace, anytime,” said Owen Unangst, CIO, US Dept of Agriculture.
A parting thought from Mr. Levin:
“Innovation that comes from the top tends to be orderly and dumb. Innovation that comes from the bottom tends to chaotic and smart.”
HOW ARE YOU INNOVATING MOBILE IN YOUR INDUSTRY? GIVE ME A SHOUT;
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.
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