A good session highly complementing the KM World 2005 sessions...a glimpse into the upcoming world of devices and the implications for content....

Kevin Foreman,General Manager, Mobile Products and Services, Real Networks Inc.
- Mission is universal platform for digital media on any Internet enabled device around the world.
- Major challenges for corporations are cost of training and education.
- Major challenge for government is citizen access
- Streaming media = Tele-communications
- Context of developments of computing devices:
o Computing moved from mainframes, minicomputers, desktops, laptops, handsets
o Text moved from interoffice mail (fax), documents (email), Websites (pager), Instant Messaging (blogs), SMS (Mobile Emails-Blackberries)
o Voice (phone), Voicemail (Cell phones), Conferencing (webcasting), VoIP (Podcasting, PhoneCasting.
o Television, videotapes, ISDN Videoconferencing, CD-ROM, webcasting, web conferencing, IPvideo conferencing, vblogs, phonecasting

- Change is hard so need to hold onto rung from previous generation. This is reflected in the terminology: 1) e-mail = emessaging, 2) cc = also 3) bcc = hidden also. and 4) ship = transport
- Mobile phone is ICE devices: Information, communications, entertainment
- Key factor in technological adaption is that phones change every 24 months
- Billing relationships built inside the service
- Multimedia phone, audio/video-enabled handsets will be common within a year...we can all be broadcasters.
-Early adopters are universities and government agencies, with examples:
o Earnings call, audio only from Real Network
o City council budget meeting Seattle City Council streaming to PC, now can watch on cell phones
o City press conference--watch on cell phones
oUniversity distance learning, continuing education, corporate education.

Key observations:
- During the last year, podcasting plus webcasting have emerged.
- Reach your audience, don't reach your audience's desktop.
- SMS and ring tones are killer apps, .now music labels,,
- Earnings announcement, i.e. 50,000 listened (heavily employees).
- Battery life is key to handset, .about 3 hours.
- Carriers moving to unlimited plans, so consume more content. Small clips.
- Comment from audience that disaster applications can be used to justify infrastructure.
- DRM is a mess--streaming is inherently secure, good user experience. Download model needs DRM. Most mobile is not DRM, but little long term value, i.e.sports, movie trailers, earnings reports. High value content is a different problem.
- Carrier pricing coming down with competition.
- High value content--will it switch to advertising revenue models???
- Devices are intimate, PC's are not. Community is always on. Different user experience, not TV.
- Search tools will need to evolve.