Wireless innovation under debate at Future of Wireless International Conference

“The centre of gravity of innovation in the mobile industry has moved to the internet and the cloud,” says Ray Anderson. “With the phenomenal success of mobile apps and online stores vending all-digital content, the device is becoming commoditised, simply providing a platform for internet-speed start-ups and leading web brands such as Facebook, Google and Twitter to innovate. The future is all about apps, content and services, accessed whenever and wherever they are needed.”

But Accenture’s David Wood believes that industry growth and value is cultivated and realised because of innovation in actual physical materials, hardware components, advanced chipsets, manufacturing expertise, and elegant product design. “Interacting with the physical world through sensors opens up significant new innovation fronts in areas such as wireless healthcare and the Internet of Things,” says Wood. “Inherent, long-lasting value results from design, engineering and manufacturing expertise; the management of scarcity in areas such as radio spectrum and energy; and the expertise to manage complex network infrastructure. Players in the physical world will always have a fundamental role in innovation.”

The 2012 Future of Wireless International Conference will take place at The Møller Centre and Churchill College Cambridge on Wednesday 27 June 2012 and will reflect every part of the wireless value chain. Other speakers at the conference include Rory O’Neill, Vice President of Software and Services EMEA, RIM; Andy Hudson, Head of Spectrum Policy, Vodafone; Jim Maynard, President, Wavefront, Canada; Vincent Korstanje, VP Segment Marketing, ARM; Brian Robertson, Associate Director, Broadcom; Dr Jo Butler, Director of Spectrum Technology, Ofcom; Rupert Cezalet, Head of Public Affairs, Airwave Solutions; Ray Anderson, CEO, Bango and many more. The ‘Cambridge Debate’ at the end of the conference will be chaired by Peter Day, Business Correspondent, BBCNews, BBC.

The conference will also include exhibition zones along with hands-on workshops, facilitated brainstorms and plenary sessions. Next generation wireless start-ups will be showcasing their innovative ideas in the Start-Up Zone and the five winners from the Cambridge Wireless Discovering Start-Ups 2011 competition will pitch to the full conference at the Innovation Hothouse.