How did it get to be 2010? It seems like only yesterday that we were all frantic about Y2K computer issues. The decade moved so quickly and brought the internet and it's ability to connect people and businesses to new heights. The challenge of creating new services with viable business models still exists, yet the services continue to be innovative. One of the interesting shifts was from seeing products and services used in business first being adopted by consumers (i.e., email) to seeing consumer services (i.e., Facebook, Twitter) adopted by businesses.
What's next? Greater connectivity at ALL levels. I think the rapid adoption of social networking (however you define it) reflects the desire of individuals to connect in a less formal manner than in the past. Email allowed us to easily stay in contact with friends, family and colleagues regardless of time and place. Social networks allow a much more ad hoc method of sharing our thoughts. We can post a comment, a video, a picture, a presentation, a white paper with a few clicks.
However, for the enterprise to successfully incorporate the key concepts of social networking into their environments these solutions will need to "grow up". By this, I mean those vendors who offer solutions today, will continue to enhance them address enterprise concerns for security, privacy, integration with existing corporate applications, scalability, and ease of use. There have been web articles written about the concept of social middleware. This middleware would enable enterprises to connect to public facing social networks without exposing enterprise applications. It will be interesting to see how this type of middleware evolves.
Of course, if we talk about connectivity we must consider how and where we access content. More and more we are utilizing our mobile devices. Apple and the ubiquitous iPhone have shown how a community of application developers can create an app for just about any kind of perceived need from amusement to productivity to information sharing and more. There are already indications that location based services (LBS), which have been widely discussed and pursued by major telecom providers and consumer product/service companies. Facebook is pursuing LBS. Many iPhone apps already take location into account. What's next?
In 2010 we will connect online, via text and video, via fixed line and wireless networks. Are you connected? Will you become more connected in 2010?
What's your perspective?
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