Google to Buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5 Billion

Looks like Larry Page didn't waste time since he moved to the CEO position. It is hard to believe that the acquisition was made for Motorola's hardware business. Google wouldn't risk alienating all the smart phone makers (Samsung, HTC) who are using the Android operating system. It seems to me that Google wanted to make sure that no patent lawsuit would stop Android's growth. I see a few dark clouds on the horizon for this acquisition:

• Looking at the problems AT&T is facing with the T-Mobile acquisition, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Feds looking at this transaction very closely and, despite approving other patent acquisitions, investigating the run for patents.
• Set top box, smart phone and tablet manufacturers may ask Google to reconsider the move or get guarantees from Google about the future of their relationships.
• Nearly 20,000 employees to integrate in a software, Silicon Valley culture-driven company. It will be a challenge for both sides to adjust to the new environment.

There is no doubt that there is a huge patent war going on between Google on one side and Apple and Microsoft on the other side. What will happen when they run out of patents to buy?

The future of mobile is context

Interesting blog entry from Forrester which supports the recent release of their report: "The Future of Mobile is User Context". User context is nothing new. Back in 2009, I discussed context-aware technologies. Julie Ask gives some examples of context-aware scenarios and recognizes that these are not new, and that companies are already developing them. What I found particularly interesting was her definition of user context: “the sum total of what your customer has told you and is experiencing at his moment of engagement."

This, undoubtedly, centers context-aware services around social networks content and platforms.

iTunes App Store Surpasses 15 Billion Downloads

The iTunes App Store had only 500 applications when it launched in 2008, now it has over half a million applications if you count iPad's. The 15-billion download number is staggering. Talk about a Long Tail! The App Store is reaching this milestone only one month after the iTunes Music Store reached the same number (iTunes Music Store launched in 2003, 5 years before the App Store).

I have been a strong supporter of a vibrant developer community to establish a platform, this is one of the best illustrations we've ever seen so far.

Google's Android Market is still playing catch up (Apple must be feeling them breathing over their neck though), but if you add their numbers, this truly is an incredible growth and remarkable achievement.

The 8 most important types of collaboration apps for smart phones

According to this article which covers a recent Forrester report, the following applications will matter the most on smart phones and tablets:

• E-mail and calendars
• Document-based collaboration
• Web conferencing
• Activity streams
• Presence and chat
• Social collaboration
• Expertise location
• Videoconferencing

No real surprise, this was the kind of list that was circulated around 10 years ago except for the social collaboration and activity streams.

I found the following figure quite valuable as we always discuss the value of rich vs thin vs native type of mobile application. Clearly, the back-end is moving to the cloud while the front-end is mobile or better: multi-channels.

Omnitrol Networks Selected by Firstlight Foods and TRiDENT RFID to Integrate RFID Tracking and Traceability in Meat-rocessing Plants

Omnitrol Networks announced today that it has partnered with TRiDENT RFID to supply an RFID-based solution to Firstlight Foods to automatically capture complete pedigree, and track venison and beef processing in real time. TRiDENT RFID is a leader in integrating RFID technology in the fresh produce sector, overcoming well-known barriers associated with using UHF RFID technology to track high water content products like meat and produce. The solution will enable Firstlight Foods to automatically track venison and beef production, and to accurately generate electronic meat pedigree records enabling field-to-fork traceability.

Read more or watch the video here.

In-house 'app stores' ease tablet-management woes

Excellent article from ComputerWorld about the challenges of managing BringYourOwnDevice (BYOD) in the enterprise. The consumerization of IT and the proliferation of new devices like the ipad are changing the face of application management within the enterprise. The article highlights the three approaches to application deployment:

• Use internal app store to control delivery and update of employee LOB apps
• Use mixed model to allow employees to use externally developed apps
• Total app freedom

Each enterprise will have different requirements to choose one of the above strategies. The key is to choose an infrastructure and back-end integration that will allow the transition from one to the other based on new requirements.

AT&T To Acquire T-Mobile USA In $39 Billion Deal

The acquisition spree that started in 2005 continues. T-Mobile was the only one significant independent GSM carrier left in the US market and, logically, AT&T just acquired it. But the Feds need to approve it and this might not be as easy as it looks. The Feds will say that the merger will against the Communications Act and the concentration of market share in fewer players will hurt competition and innovation. In the US, AT&T and Verizon are in battle to become the dominant leader in controlling the Service Provider end of the network triangle. Can they succeed (and profit) without controlling another end?