IBM: Middle East mobile boom as regional markets open
Posted: 11 December 2003
Stronger trend to liberalisation, privatisation, regulation
of telecom markets in the region vital for connected world, says
IBM Software Group head
A global boom in connected computing could pass the Middle East
by if markets do not open to new technologies, while a major opportunity
exists for the region to learn from the early experiences of other
global areas, said the head of IBM’s software group in the
Middle East, Bashar Kilani.
Kilani, speaking at the Dubai PDA Summit, pointed to a global market
of some 10 billion connected devices by 2005: a result of the convergence
between traditional desktop and data center computing and telephony.
“Research shows us that by 2005, we can expect some 70% of
global enterprise companies to have deployed mobile computing solutions
in their businesses as connectivity and the intelligence of networks
and software increases. In fact, some 75% of European companies
will provide wireless applications to their employees in the next
year,” said Kilani in his address to the conference. “But
we face some very real challenges if we are to enjoy the increases
in productivity and capabilities that these technologies bring to
companies in this region.”
The growing trend towards competitive public wireless networks,
enabled through GSM and now 3G mobile technologies, is opening up
enormous new markets in the region, with millions of people now
using mobiles in their everyday lives. With the advent of new ‘convergent’
devices such as wireless-equipped notebook computers and hand held
PDAs, businesses can operate using pervasive computing technologies
to ensure that every employee is online and connected to the company’s
knowledge, resources and systems.
More
However, the challenge to companies in the Middle East trying to
implement such systems comes from a lack of clear regulation and
legislation in many areas: potential barriers to the implementation
of wireless networks. Added to this, there are complex technology
issues that can hold back growth in the adoption of wireless solutions
by companies: Even where the regulatory environment is clear and
wireless networks can be freely deployed, companies face technology
hurdles: a wide number of innovative solutions are available and
they can be very hard to integrate into a single, company-wide mobile
resource that is truly technology and network independent.
“There is a need to simplify complex networks by using software
that ties together fixed, data centre and desktop sytems, with a
wide range of mobile devices that can each have a defined role in
a company’s mobile strategy. Only then can companies in this
region build effective mobile solutions that drive true advantage,”
said Kilani. “IBM is working with organisations across the
region today to drive understanding of the issues, to share the
experience of other regions in getting to grips with the issues
that they need to address in order to build mobile access into their
business models.”
With almost 90% of corporate companies in Europe planning to implement
wireless networks in the future, and some 50% providing PDA devices
to employees today, the movement towards mobile businesses is a
major market force, said Kilani. “We are seeing that trend
now being reflected in our own markets, particularly where there
is clear regulation and where companies are able to benefit from
a clear and competitive wireless networking environment. There’s
no doubt that mobility is a clear business advantage that companies
in our region can be using today.”
About IBM
IBM is the world’s largest information technology company,
with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. IBM
offers a wide range of services, solutions and technologies that
enable telecommunications service providers and equipment suppliers
to take full advantage of the new era of e-business. IBM Global
Services is the world’s largest information technology services
provider, with 2001
revenues of more than $35 billion. Services is the fastest growing
part of IBM, with nearly 150,000 professionals serving customers
in 160 countries. IBM Global Services has about 150 data centres
around the world keeping thousands of businesses running 24 hours
a day, seven days a week.
For more information on IBM see www.ibm.com.
Posted by Richard Price,
Editor Pipeline Magazine
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