Next Generation Communications Blog

Web 2.0

Top Benefits of Web 2.0 and Cloud Computing in a Business Environment

Rapid advancements in communications technology have been accompanied by an equally swift multiplication in security threats, a growth in cybercrime as well as the introduction of new security regulations.

 

Despite security concerns, according to a recent study, a majority of executives polled by Deloitte - 60.9 percent - believe cloud computing will be a transformative technology in the industry and can drive financial benefits, or at least be useful for certain kinds of enterprise services.

 

Web 2.0, which allows information to be sourced from many locations and displayed as composite parts of new applications, is changing the way enterprises use the Internet for business interactions with employees, customers, partners and suppliers, according to a recent Alcatel Lucent whitepaper.

 

Company officials contend that cloud computing "is on the horizon with the promise to reduce costs by creating virtual computing 'clouds' in cyberspace."

 

New business models enabled by Web 2.0 and cloud computing are indeed creating more challenges by externalizing business processes and moving them to cyberspace where there is less control of private data and the traditional enterprise perimeter can no longer provide a sufficient defense.

 

The new business models are being rapidly adopted without mastering how to make the technology less vulnerable, according to Alcatel Lucent officials. As companies embrace mobile communications, enable employees to work from remote locations, and co-market and sell with partners, the enterprise IT team needs to respond with new security methods to keep the enterprise secure.

 

As such, an advanced and secured communications network is the key to enabling an enterprise to respond to this new business environment and become a dynamic enterprise.

 

According to the Deloitte survey, cloud computing enthusiasm was somewhat tempered by executives' concern over security and privacy, as 34.6 percent cited these issues as the largest considerations for adopting cloud computing in their organizations.

 

However, by following a user-centric security blueprint, enterprises will be positioned to leverage new business models made possible by Web 2.0, cloud computing and mobile communications technology.

 

According to Alcatel Lucent, this blueprint describes the elements required to:

 

·         Secure the voice and data fabric of the network given new requirements for security;

·         Empower employees of the enterprise to maximize productivity;

·         Drive down the cost of securing the enterprise; and

·         Deliver the information concerning security that must be managed.

 

They will also be able to continually evolve to respond to new and increasingly sophisticated security threats, the growth of cybercrime and the introduction of new regulations.

Enabling the Application & Content Provider: Collaboration for Innovation

By offering their partners access to their network intelligence, network operators can foster a more trusting, more equitable relationship with ACPs, prompting them to not only develop more applications and content faster, but to tailor them to targeted subscribers, creating a more viable and predictable revenue model.

Competition vs. Collaboration: Strategies for New Revenue Generation

The idea is that working in tandem with other industry experts facilitates more rapid development of products that will be more widely available, more reliable, and more cost effective to develop. In addition, market acceptance is increased due to the collaborative nature of the product(s) - there is less hesitation resulting from the perception of single-vendor bias.

Leveraging Multi-industry Ecosystems to Speed Service Innovation

ABI Research predicts that Verizon Wireless, for example, will spend close to $30 billion on spectrum and infrastructure, and while LTE technology will present Verizon and other operators with significant reductions in operating costs, they will still need to find new revenue streams support their business models to compete effectively.

Using Multimedia Content Management Solutions to Drive New Revenue While Increasing QoE

The evolution of networks, content, applications, and devices, combined with user's understanding of the capabilities available to them and their new expectations that result from this enlightenment make it critical for providers to be able to leverage flexible service delivery and management infrastructures.

Driving Innovation Through Multi-Industry Ecosystems

Indeed, ecosystems provide an opportunity for businesses that would have had little cause to work together under traditional business models, to generate added value for the members of a growing number of ecosystems as well as their end users.

How the Recession is Impacting Consumer Spending on Network-based Services

What it means is there is an ongoing opportunity for network operators, whose services are viewed as a much more fundamental part of everyday life than other leisure activities. Indeed, broadband service can be considered recession-proof.

Best Ways to Use the Content Management Enabler to Serve Multiple Devices and Screens

In an era when content is typically a few clicks away and consumers' thirst for media grows, network providers are increasingly looking to expand their next generation communications with multimedia services. While the popularity of social networking offers SMBS and large companies a host of revenue opportunities, end users are starting to explore the multi-screen concept to capitalize on some of the benefits.   One such company that can help fulfill end users' hunger for "always on," anytime and anywhere services is Alcatel-Lucent. The Paris-based company, which focuses on fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications and services, developed a multi-screen experience that helps the movement of content and services across a multitude of devices.   Today, multimedia services are often characterized by companies' ability to grab end users' attention for lengthy periods of time. According to a recent Alcatel-Lucent white paper, video, for example, has the longest shelf life. And network providers can monetize that form of media by extending it from TV to mobile, PCs through mobile triple play offerings, remote access to user-generated content in home networks, and building upon existing video services to add value and other personalized information.   As people adopt modern day devices like PCs, notebooks, netbooks, and smart phones for greater convenience, traditional TV is no longer a viable means to reach consumers.

Speed Introduction of New Intelligent Applications and Time to Revenue

By collaborating closely with third-party developers and content providers - and by allowing them greater access to network resources, including QoS capabilities, network-based storage, and key subscriber and device data - operators will not only create long-lasting relationships with these providers by increasing their networks' value to them, but will also allow intelligent, contextual applications and services to be more efficiently developed and rolled out, lowering all-important time to revenue.

Best Practices for Improving Time to Market of New Products and Services

These capabilities, made available to in-house developers or third-party partners, will allow for increased efficiency in the development of new services that can run on different platforms to support a wider user base.

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