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Ecosystems & Enablers

Platform-based two-Sided Business Models need sustainable Ecosystems of partners and developers, and APIs to enable potential customers to use Telco assets and processes. There are a huge variety of APIs being developed in the market by Industry bodies (e.g.s OMTP, GSMA, TMF) and by individual players (e.g.s. Betavine, Orange Partners).

  • What sort of Ecosystem is needed to make a 'platform' or 'horizontal play' work?
  • Strategies and case studies on the creation, development and nourishment of Ecosystems.
  • Commercial strategies for API programmes.
  • What needs to be done to ensure that APIs are valuable for upstream players (developers, merchants, advertisers, governments etc.) and profitable for operators?
  • What else needs to be done to enable successful new and transformed business models?

Please see below for current content.  For future content please see here.

New Content (Use "Search" or "more articles" to find more)

  Growing the Digital Economy: Lessons from Brazil, Mexico, and Iran
The success of digital economies is underpinned by the growth of the Internet. Our analysis of a number of economies shows that enlightened policy is more important than the wealth of the populace or any other measure. What are the key lessons? (March 2014, Executive Briefing Service).

It's not population nor GDP Feb 2014
  Personal Data: how to make it a viable, customer-centred industry
For ‘Personal Data’ to realize its potential as a new class of economic asset there needs to be a global, cross-industry approach that empowers and protects consumer users, enables businesses, and that has scope for appropriate governance. This report is a summary of the significant progress made towards this aim made by the World Economic Forum’s Re-thinking Personal Data ‘Tiger Team’, facilitated by STL Partners with the support of the Personal Data Ecosystem Consortium, MIT Media Lab, Microsoft, Ctrl-Shift and other leading experts, at meetings held in March 2012 in San Jose, and in London in June 2012. (July 2012)

WEF Personal Data principles draft June 2012 small
  HTML5: market impact and telco strategies
HTML5 will have a profound impact on consumers’ and businesses’ interaction with the web in coming years. In particular, HTML5-compliant smartphones may lead to a reduction in the power of closed app platforms such as Apple iOS and Google Android. While this seems broadly positive for telcos, there may also be negative side-effects of the increasing capability of standardised (and often free) Internet capabilities. (May 2012, Executive Briefing Service)

HTML5 Standards Scope and Status
  Dealing with the 'Disruptors': Google, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft/Skype and Amazon (Updated Extract)
An extract from our 284 page, 124 chart, strategy report that analyses the business models, markets, objectives, strategies and modus operandi of the major adjacent players, and their current and future impact on the telecoms industry. The report identifies the areas and options for competition and co-operation, and outlines potential strategies for interacting with each player. It also draws the combined activities of the digital empires - telcos, so called 'OTT players' and others - into the context of the new 'Great Game', the battle for power and value in the emerging digital economy. (Page updated February 2012, report published November 2011, Dealing with Disruption stream) Google Apple Facebook Microsoft Skype Amazon Telco 2.0 Disruptor Report Cover
  'Under-The-Floor' (UTF) Players: threat or opportunity?
The telecoms industry often puts so-called OTT (over-the-top) players like Google and Facebook at the forefront of its concerns, as they pose new competition for services and applications. But what about encroachment of companies “underneath” the telcos, displacing them from their core asset, the network? Telco 2.0 examines the strategic threats and opportunities from wholesale providers, outsourcers and government-run broadband networks. (January 2012, Executive Briefing Service, Future of the Networks Stream).

UTF Image Jan 2012
  Strategy 2.0: The Six Key Telco 2.0 Opportunities
A summary of the six Telco 2.0 opportunities to transform telco's business models for success in an IP-based, post PSTN world: Core Services, Vertical Solutions, Infrastructure Services, Embedded Communications, 3rd Party Enablers, and Own Brand OTT Services. It includes an extract from the Roadmap to New Telco 2.0 Business Models, updates on latest developments, and feedback from over 500 senior TMT industry execs. (July 2011, Executive Briefing Service, Transformation Stream).

Telco 2.0 Six Key Opportunity Types Chart July 2011
  Apple iCloud/iOS: Killing SMS Softly?
Our analysis of how Apple's iCloud, iOS5, and MacOS developments build value and control for Apple's digital platform, and their consequences on other parts of the digital ecosystem, including the impact of iMessage on text messaging. (June 2011, Executive Briefing Service)

Apple iCloud logo in analysis of impact of iCloud/iOS on digital ecosystem
  New Business Models: Half Future Telco Growth
Senior industry executives in Palo Alto at the 12th Telco 2.0 Executive Brainstorm agreed that half of the telco growth available in the next 3 years would come from the new business model opportunities identified in the ‘Roadmap to new Telco 2.0 Business Models’ report. The other half would come from improvements to the current business model. Headline findings in brief. (April 2011, Executive Briefing Service) Americas - 6 Opportunities Vote
  Appstore 2.0: Amazon Vs Apple & Google
Amazon is probably the Internet's best retailer. As it launches its own AppStore, we provide a detailed analysis of its digital media business and pick out the key opportunities it offers to content owners, network service providers and manufacturers. (March 2011, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream).

  Android: Google's Anti-Apple Virus?
It can be tempting to think of Android as in a two-horse race with Apple. Our analysis shows that the current and future impact of Google's highly successful mobile ecosystem play is much more complex. (March 2011, Executive Briefing Service, Disruption Stream.)
  iPad2: how Apple plans to dominate the ‘post PC era’
Apple’s new ‘PC-killer’ tablet is intended to significantly expand the Apple ecosystem, with long-term impacts on many players including telcos, giving Apple an even stronger hold on the market. What strategies should telcos adopt? (March 2011, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream).
  YouTube: Recent improvements could change the game (again)
YouTube’s recent improvements to its business model and balance sheet make it much more attractive to content owners. In this article we explain these developments and examine the wider implications for all players the market. (March 2011, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream)
  Digital Entertainment 2.0: Telcos risk missing the UltraViolet online video opportunity
2011 sees the introduction of the UltraViolet digital locker platform by DECE, a consortium led by 6 of the 7 top Hollywood studios and backed by 50 cross-industry heavyweights, to support the transition of film and TV to online distribution. What opportunities will telcos miss if they fail to engage? (March 2011, Executive Briefing Service)
  Mobile World Congress: Microsoft CEO fails to land all punches, but...
Microsoft's pugilistic CEO Steve Ballmer came out fighting at the 2011 GSMA Mobile World Congress, but failed to register a convincing win. Is this the start of the old software champ's great comeback in mobile, or is the only way down? Our hunch may surprise you. (February, 2011, Executive Briefing Service)
  Augmented Reality: Is there a valuable role for telcos?
An introduction to Augmented Reality (AR) including: key industry players; latest developments; and the AR ecosystem. The key strategic question is what role should telcos play? Three possible roles are outlined. (February 2011, Executive Briefing Service)
  Enterprise Voice 2.0: Ecosystem, Species and Strategies
Analysis of the structure of the Enterprise Voice 2.0 market ecosystem, the business models and value networks within it, and conclusions as to what operators can do in order to benefit from it. (April 2010, Executive Briefing Service)
  Apple vs. Nokia: strategic lessons from the Smartphone / Appstore Wars
In the last quarter of 2009, Apple made more money from smartphones and applications than the formerly dominant Nokia. The contrast between their approaches to developer communities reveals important lessons in the design and management of ‘two-sided’ business model ecosystems. (March 2010, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream)
  Defining the Telco 2.0 Ecosystems
An overview of our forthcoming syndicated research project to define the vocabulary, describe the ecosystems, identify the key roles and size key Telco 2.0 applications identified in the 'Two-Sided' Telecoms Market Opportunity. (March 2010, Executive Briefing Service)
  Voice & Messaging 2.0: New API Use Cases
‘Communications-Enabled Business Processes’ (CEBP) are a key application for voice and messaging APIs. This Briefing Report illustrates three new real world examples of integrating communications into end-user business applications using web services to access telco APIs. (February 2010, Foundation 2.0, Executive Briefing Service)
  New Opportunities in Online Content Distribution
As part of our new 'Broadband End-Games' report, we’ve been defining in detail the opportunities for telcos to distribute 3rd party content and digital goods in new ways. (December 2009, Executive Briefing Service, Future of the Networks Stream).
  Apps & AppStores: Litmus vs Apple AppStore
As O2 UK's Litmus developer proramme matures into a global corporate project for Telefonica, we analyse the business model challenges it faces in becoming a vibrant community for developers and a value driver for the company. (Sept 2009, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream).
  7 Strategic Priority Areas for new Telecoms Business Models
In the last 12 months the fundamental question related to the '2-sided' telecoms market opportunity has changed from 'what is it' to 'how do we do it?'  This Briefing report describes the key priority areas. (June 2009, Executive Briefing Service, Telco 2.0 Transformation Stream)
  Open APIs 2.0 - APIs Everywhere, But What Is The Joined-up Commercial Strategy?
APIs are a hot topic but only 2% of Telco 2.0 Executive Brainstormers thought the industry is getting it absolutely right. What is the cohesive commercial strategy required to enable market growth? (May 2009, Special Event Briefing: Executive Briefing Service)
  LiMo - the Tortoise picks up Momentum
LiMo is perhaps the most Telco 2.0 of the Linux mobile handset operating systems.  What are it's advantages for operators? (Feb 2009, Executive Briefing Service)
  Mobile NGN - a Real Telco 2.0 Opportunity?

Analyst's review of "Next-Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) Beyond HSPA and EVDO", technical requirements framework for vendors. (March 2008, Executive Briefing Service, Future of the Networks Stream).

  Google vs Telcos, Tale of the Tape
Telecoms Operators have some great advantages Vs Google in the delivery of new services but only if they recognise and act on their strengths. (March 2008, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream)
  Verizon Wireless’ volte-face: Virtue or Vice?

What are the business model impacts of Verizon Wireless moving to a "less closed" network attachment model? (November 2007)

  Google anchors its carrier off the coast of Telcoland
Why is Google bothering with nonexclusive radio spectrum - and offering to sublicence it for public access? (July 2007, Executive Briefing Service, Dealing with Disruption Stream).