Windows 8 : Metro for all

At CES this week, Steve Ballmer presented the latest Windows 8 pre beta, build 8176 (still a developer version) :

- Metro interface, seamless user experience on desktop, laptop, tablets and smartphone (still in 7.5). I don't really like the big blocks, and would prefer to use the old desktop.

- Storage spaces, is it disk virtualization for all ? according to Microsoft, Storage spaces were designed to be highly scalable supporting from just a few Terabytes to Petabytes, interesting for home users... http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/01/05/virtualizing-storage-for-scale-resiliency-and-efficiency.aspx.

Microsoft said Windows 8 public beta to be launched in Feb 2012, then let's see final features in a couple of weeks, before saying if businesses will start upgrading to Windows 8 in 2013, 2014, 2015 or never. I remember a couple of customers at a conference who said Windows 7 will be their last Windows version on desktop, having in mind a lot of large companies still have only Windows XP as standard OS images.

A revolution in Mobile : 19.99€ per month unlimited

Paris 9:30am

After creating a big buzz (no noise at all before the launch date), Xavier Niel CEO of Iliad, announced today the availability of disruptive new offerings for the new French Mobile Operator : Free Mobile. The actual trio Orange (41%), SFR (34%), Bouygues (16%) will be challenged by a new entrant, through a low cost Quad Play, Free will also try to move their 4.7 Millions DSL subscribers away from their actual mobile operator.

The pricing revolution :

- The Unlimited : 19.99€ per month including unlimited voice (France + 40 countries), SMS, MMS, Data (no minimum contract length requirement), you bring your own mobile, but Free will sell also iPhone 4S.

- The Quad Play : 15.99€ month only, if you already have a Free DSL box (quad play offer)

- The Low Cost : 2€ including 1hour voice + 60 SMS

Who still want to pay expensive invoices for their business phone ?

My predictions :

- Businesses will ask to cut by half their mobile phone invoices, or move to a "Bring your own mobile to work" policy, funding 20€ per month per employee.

- Orange, SFR, Bouygues hotline unreachable during next 3 weeks, due to cancellations

- My parents will move to a 2€ low cost tariff by next month

Mobile outshipped PC in 2011

What I consider as the major recent fact is the mobile/PC shipment inflection point : more mobiles,tablets,smartphones were sold in 2011 than desktops,laptops.

Impact :

- 2010-20 will be the mobile internet decade

- The end of Windows as the "only" user interface, IOS and Android are here to stay

- No more Japan, US and Europe only, Mobile is global

- This is not only phones, internet of things is the next wave

Great stats from Marry Meeker on mobile trends : http://kpcb.com/insights/top-10-m

obile-internet-trends

IT by 2020

After 20+ years in IT, in various positions working mostly for US companies in Software, Hardware and Services, I am now in charge of Solution strategy for EMEA at Symantec. As we start a new year, each analyst is due to present predictions for the coming year and beyond, but as uncertainty is the only thing everybody is sure about, we may have to rethink the way we plan and predict the future of technology. Short term planning and long term strategy is my belief, being flexible enough to address market changes and investing for long term growth will be key success factors for companies to remain in business by 2020. I will share on this blog ideas, viewpoints, facts and predictions about technology evolutions.