John Funnell

With the growth of the ‘prosumer', Telco customers continue to search for the ultimate experience at the lowest possible price, and who can blame them? But with the vast redistribution of wealth from the operators to the ever creative software/hardware companies, is the implementation of cloud solutions just another headache for the industry? Leaders in Voice such as AT&T, NTT and Virgin Mobile USA have called an urgent meeting at the NGT Summit (hosted by GDS International) to discuss the implications of the Cloud phenomenon in an already volatile and competitive market place. "As with all business the customer will ultimately drive the move," said a spokesperson for NGT 20 consortium. "Disintermediation is a key concern for the industry which must be addressed." There is no doubt the Cloud creates an improved customer service but will it be to the telecom industr... (more)

COO of Vodafone Talks ‘LTE and the Rise of the Mobile Prosumer’

Leading operators are now finding themselves in the hands of the ever-creative software/hardware companies and the changing consumer culture. iPhone appstore was the first to take advantage and make millions from the operators' customers, creating a financial redistribution within the Telecom industry. Despite this the world’s largest mobile-phone company (Vodafone) has just posted a 2.9 percent rise in profit. A consortium led by Vodafone COO Kyle Whitehill is currently meeting in Sentosa at the NGT Summit held by GDS International. This closed meeting featuring Zhang Fan - CT... (more)

JetBlue CIO Shows Creative Side to IT

JetBlue flew 2.11 billion revenue passenger miles last month, compared to 1.93 billion in January 2008, such growth is encouraging, but the company warns of growing costs throughout 2010. Its apparent due to aircraft maintenance, the volatile fuel market, and the need for greener travel, the aviation industry has a turbulent future ahead and cuts are inevitable across the board. So when in a room with JetBlue’s CIO, the question begs to be asked (and it is one that we have all faced). How do you secure your departments budget in times of cut backs? In an exclusive interview this... (more)

Vodafone CIO Speaks Up for Process Reform

Chief Information Officer on Ulitzer Change isn't new, but the pace of change in the next ten years in Europe is going to be breathtaking. Following 18 months full of dramatic re-alignment we're seeing normality return, but it's a new normal. The balance of power is shifting away from Europe and the West; emerging markets are becoming leading markets. For growth to really take hold there must be room to improve. Technology that was hype is now fast becoming business as usual. Business models are changing, and companies are relying more than ever on the expertise and resources of ... (more)

Asia Can Help Lead Climate-Change Fight with Green Dollar Spending

As officials meet in Copenhagen to hammer out a new global climate-change policy, the NGU (Next Generations Utilities) Summit was announced in Sentosa early next year by giants Tata Power and Kepco. Alongside fifty other key Utility providers in the region, the meeting - run by GDS International - was called to discuss the impact of the Copenhagen Conference and to discuss Green Dollar spending in the region. Such large operators are looking at Asia's innovative companies like Suntech in China who have taken the lead in producing silicon-based photovoltaic cells and wind-power pro... (more)