This week, Microsoft finally made a decision about its next CEO, appointing Satya Nadella to replace Steve Ballmer (and made a few other key executive shakeups), we took a deep dive into the intricacies of peering, and watched as Russia got the Sochi Winter Olympics up and running (click here if you’re still wondering how to watch the games online). Over on Gigaom Research, our analysts took a look at the infrastructure of the internet of things, the future of TV (hint: it’s not second screen apps), and how last year’s Sprint/SoftBank merger might impact mobile customers in the US.
Note: Gigaom Research is a subscription-based research service offering in-depth, timely analysis of developing trends and technologies. Visit research.gigaom.com to learn more about it.
Cloud: Enabling the IoT
Jon Collins
Jon Collins considers current business use cases and strategic options for the manufacturers and developers of the embedded devices, sensors, networks, and cloud platforms that comprise the backbone of the internet of things. Citing Moore’s law and the continued decrease in manufacturing costs, Collins focuses especially on how “more actively responsive sensory network[s] driven by cloud-based analytics” could be adopted and used across a wide range of use cases, and provides a detailed look at the infrastructure necessary for IoT architecture.
Consumer: Mobile disruption in the living room in 2014
Paul Sweeting
In his latest report, analyst Paul Sweeting looks at the increasing use of mobile devices in conjunction with TVs. While the second-screen apps trend has largely dissipated, Sweeting instead focuses on the shift from fixed to mobile platforms, spurred by “the development of communications protocols for connecting and syncing mobile devices with the TV…gradually pulling TV viewing and TV content deeper into mobile ecosystems.” The use of mobile devices also provides greater opportunities for content and data personalization – a prime space for advertisers and behavioral targeting. Mobile also provides a different data trail that traditional distribution channels, and Sweeting provides a nuanced analysis of traditional targeting advertising, and how the shift to mobile stands to disrupt these models (and their associated ad budgets) accordingly.
Mobile: Further impacts from the SoftBank-Sprint merger
Michi Kaifu
Analyst Michi Kaifu takes a look back at the six months that have passed since Sprint merged with Japan’s SoftBank. She rightfully notes that international telecom mergers and acquisitions have had a rocky history, and as a relative unknown in Silicon Valley and the US, SoftBank is an especially challenging partner for Sprint to work with. While SoftBank has dominated the Japanese mobile market by executing aggressive strategies around smartphones and the iPhone, the company has issues with cultural communication and clear messaging that could adversely affect their future in the US. Kaifu delves into SoftBank’s corporate background and historical business strategies, especially as they align (or conflict) with Sprint’s own ambitions.
