For
immediate release. 2 December 2005.
In his annual speech to UK
Senior Executives gathered to raise funds for the Prince’s Trust Technology
Leadership Group last night, Richard Holway, Director, Ovum, gave his views on
the technologies which would ignite the ICT sector in the years to come.
In past speeches Holway has
described the ICT sector as “just another mature industry” with modest
growth rates more aligned to GDP. Although this prediction has since proved to
be correct, it has earned Holway the mantle of Industry King Gloom Monger.
So, in contrast, last
night’s event was dedicated to the new innovations and technologies which
would ignite the sector.
The four main things which
currently Light Holway’s Fire are:
-
The intense battle for ownership, not of the desktop which
Microsoft had obviously won, but of the Webtop. Although Google is currently
making much of the running, Microsoft has already awoken to the threat. Other
players like IBM will add to a new Battle Royale.
-
The coming of age of web-based applications will change the whole
metrics of the software and services scene with revenue shifting from product
licensing to advertising.
-
“Anytime, anyplace,
anywhere” access has become the driver in hardware, software and comms. Music,
radio and TV on demand – all available “on the move” - will change the fortunes of the largest
and oldest media companies
-
The ubiquitous mobile phone will replace everything we carry in
our pockets – from keys, identity cards, coins, credit cards,
passports…maybe even our medical records.
Holway said “the tech
sector had gone through many cycles – the PC, the mobile, the internet etc. -
where innovation has led to the destabilising or destruction of established
businesses. There are now more ‘destructive technologies’ around than
anytime in the last ten years. Destructive technologies present great threats to
established businesses. But they create fabulous new opportunities too.”
“These opportunities will
shift revenues radically rather than grow the total size of the tech market”
“But this means that tech is really starting to look exciting again”
Holway concluded.-ends
About
Ovum
Ovum, the analyst and consulting company, is the largest European-headquartered
advisor on telecoms, software and IT services.
Resolutely
independent, Ovum advises large corporates, IT and software vendors, IT services
providers, telecoms operators, regulators, service providers, and equipment
suppliers. It analyses the commercial impact of technology and market changes,
and has a real strength in advising on the developments where telecoms, software
and IT services interact.
Ovum
takes a global perspective on leading-edge developments from our offices in
Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific. Its experts spot the short-term issues
that will have an immediate impact on markets and organisations, and advise on
the longer-term 'visionary' aspects that form the basis of strategic planning.
More
information on Ovum, its customers and its independence is available at www.ovum.com
About
The Prince’s Trust Technology Leadership Group
The
Prince's Trust Technology Leadership Group (TLG) is a unique networking forum
for leaders of technology companies in the UK.
The Group is the first top-level networking forum of its kind and has already
raised around Ł3 million for technology-related start-up businesses supported
by The Prince's Trust. http://www.princes-trust.org.uk/technology/
About
Richard Holway
Richard Holway is a director of Ovum, a Patron and Vice Chair of the Prince’s
Trust Technology Leadership Group, a non executive director of Microgen and an
adviser to several large technology companies and investment funds.
Holway
has 40 years experience in the IT sector and was Group Marketing Director of
Capgemini. He founded Richard Holway Ltd in 1986 which became part of Ovum in
2000.
Richard Holway
Tel: + 44 (0) 252 781545
Email: rholway@holway.com