Learn From the Thought Leaders at the Open Mobile Summit

The Open Mobile Summit, which will be held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in San Francisco on November 8-10, brings together many of the most powerful people in the wireless and internet industries for discussions on how to build and monetize an open mobile ecosystem.

With a wide ranging set of keynotes, panel discussions, and experienced-based presentations, the event is sure to address many of the key issues and opportunities related to open mobile applications and services.

The first two days of the event are chock full of interesting sessions, and this year, a third day has been added. This last day, titled “Appcelerate,” is dedicated to the business of mobile applications. Let’s face it, making money is what drives developers and much of development. It’s no less so in the mobile industry than it is in other niches.   Which marketplaces will have staying power as the market consolidates? What are the partnership opportunities across the open mobile ecosystem? How do I turn a game play into a game pay? What are the trends in application consumption? These are only some of the business-related questions that will be addressed during Appcelerate.

I had the opportunity to get some further insights into the event from its founder Robin Batt.

Robin Batt

What’s unique about the Open Mobile Summit?
We bring together an extremely senior group of thought leaders from right across the full spectrum of converging mobile, Internet, media and high tech industries. Our keynote speakers rival those Mobile World Congress and CTIA, and all of the 100+ speakers are thought leaders in their own right. Getting these people together is quite rare. The opportunity to participate with them  in a tight knit conference environment – with only 500 seats – is completely unique.

Apart from the networking, the brainstorming is incredible as these diverse groups of people do not naturally meet at the senior strategist / CEO- level – operators, handset and consumer electronics manufactures, wireless software, Internet and media giants, app developers, ad agencies, brands.

What should attendees expect to take away from the Open Mobile Summit?
Great relationships with some of the most influential people in the industry. Opportunity to meet folks from diverse backgrounds – not the folks you always see at the regular events for your industry – and cross pollination of ideas. A perspective of the next 12-18 months of opportunity in mobile, how the competitive landscape is evolving, who will be the winners and losers in the new converged marketplace – test your strategy against this changing landscape – and see where the profit opportunities are likely to evolve.

What would you consider to be the “don’t miss” sessions for this event?
The Keynote panels are usually some of our best content. It depends on what your interest areas are, but these are the headline issues:

• Keynote Panel: The future of mobile video (and who pays for mobile broadband?)
• Keynote Panel: Monetizing mobile: Business models for apps and the web
• Keynote Panel: Mobile platform wars and the device future

Can you talk a bit about Appcelerate. What is it? Why is it?
Appcelerate happens on Nov 10^th, Day 3 of the Open Mobile Summit. It’s also available as a standalone day. We wanted to make the whole event more accessible to app developers, publishers and smaller start-ups.

Open Mobile Summit is about the big picture strategic evolution of an industry in transition. We look to the next 12-18 months.  Appcelerate is a hands on look at the business of app development today. We wanted to get away from the overplayed ‘below the radar’ app competitions, and from vendors / platforms telling app developers / businesses what to do. And instead put some of the folks that have had real success in app publishing today share their experiences. How do you grow, scale an app business. How can you keep development costs down but build for multiple platforms? What creates stickiness, engagement – re-use? How should apps evolve? How do you make freemium work in practice? Can game mechanics be applied in other (non gaming) segments. How do you have success on the iPad?  Real specifics, from folks that have gone before. Basically.

I’ll be attending the event with Peter Kacandes and Pranjal Mahna.

Ed Ort

I’m a Communities Development  Manager at Sony Ericsson, responsible for engaging and building relationship with developers.

Peter Kacandes

Peter is a Business development and Partner manager at Sony Ericsson, where he’s responsible for defining partnership  opportunities, driving developer ecosystems, and building strategic alliances with operators and independent software vendors.

Pranjal is an Applications Partner Manager at Sony Ericsson, where he works on business modeling, mobile monetization, content licensing, and partner development.

Come on by and say hello if you see Peter, Pranjal, or me at the event. We’re particularly interested in your insights and questions regarding the open mobile ecosystem. Feel free to exchange ideas and business cards.

Visit the Open Mobile Summit Web Site for more information and to register for the event.