Seven years ago Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer named Stockholm "mobilevalley". As many other big IT-companies, the software giant hadopened a software development center in Stockholm for mobile internetapplications. A lot of money was poured into mobile internet labs andstartups in the Swedish capital.But as for many emerging technologies, it took more time thanexpected for this young industry to emerge.Even today, a minority of mobile phone users actually use and pay fora mobile data plan.But money and optimism is certainly back. At the Venturewire WirelessInnovation Conference in Redwood City last week, 64 startupspresented their ideas. Themes are very much the same as seven yearsback including mobile internet, mobile e-mail and positioningservices.Even if the time might be right this time, these young companies havemany hurdles to cross.My report from the conference has been published at redherring.comand will also appear in the next printed issue of the magazine:http://www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=22124&hed=Parking+Cash+on+Wireless+
Marie Alpman
No comments:
Post a Comment