Virtua Team Talk

At the beginning of a new year I always think it is a good time to reflect on the achievements and frustrations of the previous year and more importantly to look ahead at what 2012 might bring.

It’s also interesting to also look at what the so-called ‘experts’ think 2012 holds in store for us in terms of the technology that drives business and the likely direction it will take over the next twelve months.

I don’t necessarily believe in ‘predictions’ but there’s no harm in listening to what some media commentators think. So here’s what the experts think is 2012 will bring…

Firstly let’s look at “Social Networking for business.” The experts believe this is going to be increasingly significant and there are many reasons why companies might want exploit this trend more. Some are convinced that the future of enterprise software looks like Facebook. In fact many companies are adopting this approach already through systems like ‘Chatter’, ‘Salesforce’, ‘Yammer’ and ‘Jive’. Young people entering the workforce for the first time are used to using social media, so if you give them enterprise software that looks like Facebook, they’ll feel right at home. So will we all be using ‘Facebook’ type applications to really run our businesses? I’m not sure. Let’s wait and see.

In terms of predictions in the ‘tablet’ market it seems that everything is going to be divided between Amazon and Apple. Amazon is able to fund the cost of its tablets using subsidies from the sale of content and other media. The experts predict that Amazon will probably dominate at the bottom end and Apple at the top end because Apple has scale, can buy screen and processing power like no-one else and it has the pricing power of its incredibly strong brand.

Another prediction for 2012 is that RIM (Research in Motion) could split in two – into its hardware and services division and start offering Blackberry services as an app. Many will be very surprised if RIM is still a company in its current form this time next year. I think RIM isn’t done yet though. Blackberry devices are popular worldwide and in some markets like the Middle East and the UK, they’re very popular and well engrained in enterprises. Also RIM has got some capabilities and features that the Apple, Android, even Windows Phones do not. So I would not count them out yet.

One of last year’s predictions that is still not quite here relates to wireless payments. Many were expecting the iPhone that came out this year to have an NFC (near field communication) chip in it. It didn’t happen but the experts are convinced it’s going to happen and maybe the iPhone 5 will have an NFC chip in it.NFC is just a trigger to start the process of paying for goods. But NFC doesn’t do any good unless merchants have a point of sale capability to accept that.

Another interesting prediction relates to “3D printing”. A year ago it was still science fiction, but it is rapidly moving from science fiction to science fact. It’s an incredibly powerful concept – the idea of consumers being able to choose and make devices and products themselves. Two years ago it was used by high-end architectural practices and by Formula One teams to design and prototype their engines.

So there you are then. Some of the predictions from the ‘experts’. As for me I think the smartphone is becoming a sort of remote control for the world around us. Already you can order a pizza via this device, to call a cab, find a concerts and even control the heating in your house. Who knows where it will take us next?