The leading event of its kind in Europe, ANGA COM attracts manufacturers, service providers, network operators and content providers to the telecommunications and media industry from around the globe.

At MPP, we are keenly interested in the growth of this year's ANGA COM Congress.  It consists of four top-level industry summits and 18 strategy and technology panels with all presentations translated simultaneously in English and German.

The TV summit opens day one and with our eye trained toward effective payment solutions, we are eager to hear what insights Frank Thomsen, Editor-in-chief of stern.de, will provide in his module, Network and Content: Who Pays the Bill? 

Day two is the Broadband summit and is stacked with such hot button topics as, Pay TV vs Over the Top - Potentials and Perspective, TV Everywhere, Mobile and WiFi: From Network Operator to MSO and DVB -UHDTV and Content Protection - Major Steps into a New World!?

Day three introduces the "Connected Home Special", an entirely new aspect to ANGA COM for 2013.  This final summit presents on subjects central to ANGA's core theme, "where broadband meets content".  Partnered with the Federal Association of Information Technology, Telecommunications and New Media (BITKOM), this joint event will no doubt prove to be an invaluable gateway for those eager to stay on the leading edge.

MPP will be certain to get a front row seat for the Monetising Multiscreen, International Experiences: Multiscreen Technologies and Managing a Smart Home.  These three in-depth presentations will benefit from industry experts addressing subjects like, advertising on Connected TV and cross-platform video advertising on the second screen, making Multiscreen and OTT an offensive strategy, residential gateways, driving customer benefit and trends in device and service management for the connected home.

If you too are planning to be in Cologne for ANGA COM on June 4^th or 5^th, make sure to seek out MPP and say hello.  With great sessions in the offing and a record number of content and service providers and manufacturers in attendance; it is a great chance to be inspired to innovate.  

With over 90,000 media and entertainment professionals in attendance representing over 20.7 billion dollars in purchasing power inhabiting over 800,000 square feet the convention is a wonder to behold.  A genuine incubator of creativity, the NAB Show offers over 500 skill building sessions and the opportunity to connect with 1,500 other businesses from well beyond 150 countries around the globe.  MPP Global Solutions will be there taking advantage of everything the event has to offer.

"Where Content Comes to Life" is the tagline of the NAB Show. From content creation and management to content commerce, distribution and consumption, the Las Vegas Convention Centre will have something for everyone from the 6^th to the 11^th.  The conference aspect begins on the 6^th with exhibits opening on the 8^th.

This year the prevailing theme is metamorphosis: the changing face of media and entertainment. The modern consumer expects to enjoy high quality content across a variety of devices, anywhere, anytime with a premiere level of customisation and interactivity.  The days of rushing home to stare at a stationary screen are behind us and the NAB Show is offering a vast array of super sessions, conferences and workshops covering how to create, manage, distribute and monetise content in the multiplatform, mobile age.

Of the intensive multi-day conferences this year, Second Screen Sunday and the Disruptive Media Conference have piqued our interest here at MPP. 

Second Screen Sunday highlights the creative case studies, most recent business opportunities and technology innovations connected to the development of supplementary, harmonised and social TV content.  Some of the sessions involved in this conference are: "Show Me the Money: ROI for 2^nd Screen Production", "By the Numbers: Second Screen as an Industry" and "There's an App for That…Or is There?"

The Disruptive Media Conference will benefit from the industry professionals responsible for managing and exploring developments in online video, mobile and branded entertainment.  Covering the hot button topic of disruptive media and basic OTT technologies, the conference will address how these affect the content lifecycle, specifically distributions and consumer engagement. Topics included in the conference are the new metrics for video advertising effectiveness and TVE, On Demand and OTT services to mention but two.

On the training side of the NAB Show, the Digital Publishing Workshop is sure to be a hit with its focus on the rapidly evolving and very new world of digital publishing. Billed as a "cutting-edge training conference pushing new limits in digital content creation, publishing, marketing and monetisation" it is not to be missed.

In between sessions and workshops, there must be time made to explore the many exhibitors at this year's show.  Two special attractions within the exhibits are Content Central and the Connected Media World. Content Central is a "high-energy marketplace where buyers and sellers meet and collaborate to create new revenue streams, business models and profit centres from every form of content, for every audience on every platform." The Connected Media World is a "brand new signature destination that focuses on the connected consumer experience". In the Connected Media World, the content consumption experience is showcased across IPTV, mobile, social and cloud technologies, devices and content. 

It will no doubt be an energizing, educational and inspiring event. Make sure to seek out MPP Global Solutions at the NAB Show from the 8^th of the 10^th of April, in Las Vegas.  

Over-the-top television is the vanguard of change. Empowering the viewer, essentially allowing them to program their own viewing content - on their schedule - wherever they are.  OTT refers to content you can view via the Internet - YouTube, iTunes or Netflix for example. By using a broadband connection, viewers are able to bypass or "go over the top" of providers of linear broadcast television. No longer are you only able to watch your favourite frothy soap at 7pm on a Tuesday, you can watch it whenever you want and wherever you want.

This year's TV Connect event  has over 260 speakers focusing on the future of television in the digital age and over-the-top-television is a major talking point. Opening the conference as a day one keynote presentation entitled, "OTT & The New Pay Environment", over-the-top-television is one the recurring themes of the conference, with subjects ranging from, "Driving Forward with the Digital Home Hub" to "Monetising the Social TV Revolution".

What began as a computer-based phenomenon has morphed into complete paradigm shift in how we relate with the television. The introduction of set-top boxes like Roku, Boxee and Apple TV allow your TV to operate as an extension of your computer.  A set-top box, Boxee, for example, allows the viewer to access web based content: Netflix, MUBI or Grooveshark, perhaps, by simply clicking an icon. The beauty of this shift is that it makes entertainment and information dynamic. It adapts to you, not you to it. Suddenly you are customising the brain of your television, marrying it with all your other smart devices and treating it more as another screen and less as a static, old world and limited entertainment dinosaur.

More and more people are cutting off their pricey satellites bundles and cable packages bloated with programming they will never watch for internet-based providers like Hulu or Netflix. For a monthly fee, a viewer can have access to current and archived television and movies. Want to watch the entire first season of 24 again? Go for it, Hulu will let you! By 2020, research by The Diffusion Group suggests that viewership for internet-based broadband video will far outstrip standard broadcast television. At the recent Cable Congress that just completed on Friday in London, industry thinkers addressed just this. Ewan Mackay, the Managing Director of Cable Industry for Accenture (Europe, Africa and Latin America) presented on, "Brave New Business Models" where he addressed, "…as content moves unstoppably to digital and inexorably over-the-top, profound challenges are being presented to the traditional business models of cable operators and the established industry ecosystem."

Traditional broadcasters can benefit from the global reach for audience OTT offers. Sales on YouTube and iTunes can amount to up to 50% of a program's production budget. For shows like Canada's, Little Mosque on the Prairie, available on Hulu in the U.S., over-the-top television allows them to access an international marketplace with significantly greater ease than in the past.

Over-the-top-television has monetised the revolution and the days of linear broadcast television controlling content are be behind us. Granted, linear networks will always be the backbone but the muscles will be over-the-top-television, allowing entertainment and information to reach more people, in more locations with greater ease. The viewer will control when, where, how and, most importantly, what to watch.

So, Mr. Springsteen, it isn't 1992 anymore.  If you can't find something to watch, you've got to empower yourself and explore over-the-top-television. 

MPP Global Solutions will be at the TV Connect event at Olympia,  London on March 19-21. 

This popular technology trade show is wrapping up today after three action-packed days of innovation, big ideas, and creativity in Las Vegas. In case you aren't familiar with CES, here's a short primer on this trade show and conference:

Attended by those in the technology business, investors, journalists, and other like-minded individuals.

Now, CES is a massive trade show with a wide range of exhibitors, conference sessions, and speakers. So we thought that it would be useful in the interest of the media and entertainment niche to highlight some of the events and innovations that caught our attention and of those attending.

Television Still Rules

As evidenced by the conference tracks at CES, television is not dead and is very much at the forefront of innovation and technology. We've written before about connected-TVs and smart TVs - and it seems that this technology is still very popular and being embraced by a range of companies.

Some of the ideas discussed around this latest television technology included how consumers are expecting and demanding an integrated and familiar television experience. This means that consumers want the same features and look-and-feel they can get from their computers. This speaks to the need for providers to really get on-board with a well-planned and integrated design - consumers need to feel comfortable enough with the technology to make the switch to a connected or smart TV. These demands and the technology capabilities really speak to how the television programs and viewing habits of today are nothing like they were two years ago.

Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest - who would have ever thought these social media channels would and could have a direct impact on television? Well, it's happening and at CES a conference session was devoted to discussing how social media is impacting television viewing habits and looking into a new term for many folks - "social TV". It will be interesting to see how the entertainment and television industry learns to harness and use social media to its benefit. It is time to go beyond Tweets and Facebook updates that simply list television schedules or leak plot twists.

Content Still Matters

Remember those websites or apps that featured a nifty design and a few interesting features but really didn't do or say much? It used to be that companies could get away with providing mediocre content if it was wrapped in something shiny... Well, the times are changing  - as evidenced by sessions at CES that focused on the importance of content in building a brand or product.

In the conference session titled:The NexGen Entertainment Home Experience: From the Smart & Connected TV to the Tablet, PVR, Smartphone and PC Experience, industry experts and others discussed how this range of technology is really emphasizing one thing: the value of rich content. We've written about the importance of good solid content before, and this is something that simply is not going to change.

The bounty of technology and mobile technology means that in order to win over consumers and build a substantial subscriber base, companies must provide content that is well-written, produced and cohesive. Consumers want to watch a program on their television then visit the website on their computer for that program and then download the app to their tablet for the program - all the while getting a common look-and-feel with cohesive language and content. Of course embedded in all this consumers are demanding the latest in video technology, HDTV, and social connectivity.

Mobile Demands

Consumers want it and they want it wherever they are. This means that media and entertainment companies must learn how to take their products and repackage them to meet the mobile consumer. This means magazines need to focus on their digital editions. This means that television producers need to think about a YouTube channel that gives subscribers premium content. This means that newspapers need to understand the reading habits of those using their smartphone to read the daily news.

All of this speaks to a shift in market opportunities for the media and entertainment space - companies are no longer limited to magazine subscriptions, newspaper home delivery and standard cable packages. A number of conference sessions and innovations at CES reinforced how vital it is for companies to think about how consumers are using and accessing their products.

CES Conclusions

Of course this is just a very brief snapshot of the highlights of CES but from our perspective it does something very important: it reinforces how vital it is for those of us in the media and entertainment industry to stay one step ahead of consumer demands.

Yes, easier said than done. But if you can listen to and interact with your customers (think Twitter and Facebook) then you have the opportunity to innovate in the right direction. The technology space is moving at a very quick pace and this is not the time to get left behind. Think about your existing products and services and how you're going to package and deliver them to meet the new demands of television and mobile technology.

With this in mind, we thought we'd give you a glimpse into our 2013 crystal ball. After all it is impossible to make plans and resolutions that will stick if you don't have a sense for what 2013 will likely bring...

We sat down and analysed the trends of 2012, the growths and slumps, the booms and the busts - and have put together a rather short but important list of what we believe will be key factors in 2013 for the media and entertainment niche:

• Paywall Proliferation
• Mobile Mania  

Paywall Proliferation

In 2012 we saw a record number of newspapers and media companies make the move to adopting paywalls and subscription-based models. What was once believed to be a sure fire way to drive away readers has since shown to be one of the best ways for newspapers and other media outlets to create a consistent revenue stream.

We wrote about paywalls extensively in 2012 and time and time again our analysis demonstrated that the intelligent use of paywalls often takes newspapers, magazines and other online media sources from dwindling readership to an increase in at-home delivery and a boom in online readership.

2013 looks to be an even stronger year for paywall and subscription-based content systems. Consumers no longer find it strange to be prompted to register and sign up for access to premium content or full access to their favourite daily newspaper.

Part of the reason for this shift in acceptance of paying for access to content (which we once assumed would always be free) can be based on the change in how we are educated and entertained. More of us are disconnecting our cable television, ending our traditional magazine subscriptions and no longer visiting the library. Instead we're accessing only the television programmes we want (often commercial-free) through an on-demand television service such as Netflix, we're reading select articles from our favourite magazines thanks to a premium digital subscription plan that allows us to choose the articles that are delivered to our mobile device, and when it comes to reading - we rely on our WiFi-enabled ereaders to give us immediate access to bestseller lists and online retailers.

2012 demonstrated that we're willing to pay for what we want. 2013 will reinforce the paywall and subscription-based models - giving many media and entertainment companies a consistent revenue stream thereby allowing them to provide better and stronger content.

Mobile Mania

iPhone. Android device. iPad mini. Surface. Kindle. Galaxy.

Just a brief summary of the brands and products that became common place in 2012. Chances are very high you know someone who received a new smartphone or other mobile device as a Christmas present. Chances are even higher that you know someone who bought such a device during the Boxing Week sales.

Mobile is where it's at and this is evidenced by a quick glance at the focus of many technology and media companies. Have you got skills in iOS development, Android development, web writing, social media marketing or mobile app product management? Anyone with one or more of these skills is on the "most wanted" new employee list.

Companies in every industry have recognised how important it is to be available to consumers via a mobile device. While this was primarily the domain of media and entertainment companies, we're now seeing product and service driven companies shifting focus to reaching us through mobile apps.

Along with this focus on mobile app development we're also seeing more free WiFi zones, more magazines and books moving to digital-only models, and media companies providing a full spectrum suite of products - television, Internet, and mobile (think of Netflix).

2012 saw a rise in smartphones, tablets, and mobile app development. 2013 will highlight how important it is to longevity and success to have some kind of mobile product - be this a news app that allows readers to get the latest news on-demand, a game that allows players to earn reward points for an online store, or a mobile-only magazine that includes embedded video and the ability to interact with writers and content producers.

What Does This Really Mean for 2013?

To be blunt - make sure you're delivering good content. Paywalls, subscription-based content, mobile apps, fancy websites, and on-demand video all rely on one key component: content.

To be truly successful in 2013, media and entertainment companies must remember what they first built their businesses on: innovative content that no one else was writing, producing and delivering.

At the end of the year, content will be driving the success of paywalls, mobile apps, and the media industry. Don't forget that behind the fancy mobile app, innovative subscription model and access-anywhere-at-anytime delivery model - you must give the consumer what they want - proven and reliable content.

Content truly will be king for 2013.

And now in 2012, we're experiencing something very similar, but this time it is not the television cameras - rather it is the keyboard, mobile devices, and camera phones that are making their presence known. While the 2008 American Presidential election was played out in part on Twitter, Facebook, and blogs - the 2012 election was front and center.

Just as every gaff and movement was captured with television cameras in the pre-social media/digital age, now there really is nowhere to hide - thanks to the viral nature of social media. With dedicated social media campaigns behind the candidates and team members tasked with planning and managing Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr accounts - both Mitt Romney and Barack Obama recognized the power of instant communication and most importantly - community.

While the television cameras brought the candidates into our living rooms - there was still a detachment. We couldn't communicate with these people. Now social media has changed all this. Follow Barack Obama on Twitter and you can reply to, re-tweet, and favorite his Tweets - you can become part of a community of other like-minded folks and  feel that you're part of something bigger than yourself. Take a look at Facebook - all it takes is a Like and all of a sudden you're connected to what your chosen candidate is doing, saying or not-saying - and you have a chance to comment and share these words and photos.

What is very interesting is how mainstream media and journalists turned to social media to gauge public opinion, to find sources and to even keep track of what the candidates are doing. The 2012 U.S. election has really highlighted how integral social media has become in establishing public opinion, solidifying a brand and even exposing flaws in thinking.

Consider these numbers:

• As election results came in, Twitter users tweeted at a rate of 327,452 Tweets per minute.
• The most popular re-tweeted message of all time in Twitter's six year history is from President Barack Obama, the words "Four more years" accompanied a photo of the President hugging his wife Michelle Obama. This Tweet was re-tweeted a record 700,000 times. Even more interesting is that this message was Tweeted hours before President Obama took to the stage in Chicago to give his acceptance speech.
• On Facebook the same photo received more than 3.23 million Likes and over 400,000 Shares.
• Perhaps most telling was this Tweet from President Obama "This happened because of you. Thank you."

While social media did not "make" the 2012 election, it did play a central role. People became empowered to share their views and opinions on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, blogs and other viral sites. Thanks to the immediacy of social media, we could get instant feedback from our peers and community on what our chosen candidate was doing, saying and even thinking.

Social media combined with television has really changed the face of elections. Those of us voting turn to social media to find out the latest news, results and plans of our candidates. And the candidates are using social media to raise awareness of ideas/platforms, to raise funds, to highlight competitor missteps and to monitor public opinion. It will be very interesting to see how social media and mainstream journalism interact with candidates and voters in four years time... hopefully both the candidates, voters and media have learned a few lessons about what works and doesn't work online.

Here is a quick look at the highlights from the Q3 balance sheet:

• Revenue rose $905.1 million - up 10% from 2011 Q3.
• $7.7 million in net income - this is down from $62.5 million in 2011 Q3.
• Netflix streaming service gained 2 million members.
• 29 million members worldwide.
• 25.1 million members in the U.S. - this up 20% from 2011.

For an Internet-based business that is undergoing rapid international expansion in this economic climate, it is not surprising to see some drops on the balance sheet. These lower than expected numbers are in fact attributed to the recent expansion into Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

For analysts and investors, there is a rather tepid feeling when it comes to Netflix - with the stock falling more than 16% to $57 at the close of trading on Oct. 23.

But what about the cornerstone of Netflix's business - the almighty consumer?

A quick Google search reveals that many customers have a lingering sour taste when it comes to Netflix. This is all thanks to announcements in 2011 that it would be separating its DVD rental service from its Internet streaming subscription. This resulted in the company losing 1 million subscribers in the third quarter of 2011. In fact the consumer backlash was so strong that CEO David Hastings decided to drop Qwikster (DVD rental website).

But this setback aside, people are still paying and watching. The key is what they are watching. Streaming customers have watched over 3 billion hours of digital content. Television shows are leading the pack - thanks in part to the exclusivity deals Netflix has for six of its top 10 programs.

Consumers were initially drawn to Netflix because it was unique... But thanks in part to its success - Netflix is no longer unique. Now the company is facing stiff competition from the likes of Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple iTunes, Hulu Plus, Redbox Instant, Microsoft Xbox, and Wal-Mart Vudu. Yes - this is an impressive list of companies - companies that have deep pockets and a vested interest in breaking into the space that Netflix has identified.

Sometimes it is great to be an innovator and other times, not so much. This is where Netflix is right now. It turned heads by doing Internet streaming really well. Customers appreciate the consistent look-and-feel - regardless of interface, Netflix looks and behaves the same. There were some snags with getting really strong content but now Netflix is paving the way with exclusive television programming and soon Netflix-only movie releases.

But now the copycats are coming along. Big companies are realizing that there is a pretty attractive spectrum of consumers out there who are turning to Internet streaming for their entertainment. So what does Netflix do? Well, it might sound simple, but essentially - stick to what it knows:

• Internet streaming of quality content. This is what customers want and demand. If they don't have access to their favorite shows - they'll leave.
• Think of the kids. Yes, that children's programming market is huge. Netflix is doing a great job of providing lots of entertainment options for kids.
• Keep things simple. This is what has made Netflix so appealing to its wide-range of consumers. You don't need to be a technical wizard to watch programs with Netflix. And better still - the interface looks the same on each device.
• The customers have the ultimate control. CEO Hasting does not want a repeat of the 2011 backlash... so the company would do well to get out and talk to its customers - engage with them on social media and find out what it is they want.

Sure the numbers are a bit short. But this does not spell the end of Netflix. In the end to get the numbers back to where they once were, Netflix needs to stay the course. Focus on the international expansion, figure out how to continue growing in the U.S., and remember that ultimately if the customers aren't happy they now have options - something they didn't have a year ago...

For those of you who are avid news and magazine readers or are in the media and entertainment space - this news from the close to 80 year-old weekly magazine likely did not surprise you. 

This move from print to digital and finally to an all-digital publication is one that has been  whispered and speculated about for some time now for many magazines, newspapers and other print journals. The numbers and survey results are simply too hard to ignore. 

Take a look at the numbers and stats coming from Newsweek:

• Newsweek's revenue from print advertising dropped from $334 million from 2007 to 2011.
• The Daily Beast web site has more than 15 million unique visitors each month. This is a 20 per cent increase over the last year.
• Newsweek circulation hit a high of 3.3 million in 1991 and now hovers at 1.5 million.
• Newsweek has reported $40 million in annual losses.
• It costs $42 million to print and distribute Newsweek.

These are some startling numbers. Along with the recent turmoil at this news-magazine which has seen change of ownership, controversial cover and story choices, and the loss of key staff - the power of the online media and online readership cannot be ignored. Two years ago Newsweek purchased The Daily Beast and this enabled the magazine to capture new readers as well as for the head office to fully understand the potential of online readership and subscriptions. 

In fact, Brown has said "...it was always going to happen," of the move to digital and "It really has not been a question of if. It was a question of when." 

Circulation, print advertising revenue and publishing costs aside, decision-makers at Newsweek and other similar news organization simply cannot ignore the rise and power of online readership. In fact a recent Pew Research Center survey focusing on the changing news landscape has revealed that only television exceeds online as a news source. Of the people surveyed, Yahoo, Google, CNN, local news and MSN were the top five online sources for news. 

Which brings us around full circle to Newsweek. Brown has said that as of Dec. 31, 2012, Newsweek will no longer be available on store shelves. Instead readers will face a new reality for the ground-breaking news magazine on Jan. 1, 2013. Rebranded as Newsweek Global, readers will have to pay for online and tablet subscriptions. As is common with most newspapers and news magazines who have gone the digital subscription route, some content will be available for free - in the case of Newsweek this will enable it to maintain The Daily Beast website.

The good news for Newsweek is that it is not the first news organization to do this. The decision-makers, journalists, and even graphic artists can learn from the mistakes and positives of the news organizations (New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, and soon the Chicago Tribune) who have already made the move to a digital paywall. One thing is clear from the experience of these newspapers is that readers will pay. 

The early speculation was that readers would be turned off by digital paywalls and would turn to other sources for their news. Luckily for the early trendsetters, this has not been the case - in fact thanks in part to the digital paywalls, some newspapers have experienced an increase in readership. More and more people are learning that just because content is online doesn't mean it should be free. 

To be a success, Newsweek Global would benefit from remembering a few keys to business success:

• Stick with what you know. In other words - keep delivering solid content and articles - don't change just because you're online.
• Focus on quality. With quality content comes quantity - website visits will go up and subscriptions will be bought.
• Don't panic. At first there will likely be some kind of backlash or people will be slow to pay - but once they realize that the content is still good and that the new medium meets their needs, they'll be there.
• People are loyal. 80 years is a long time, there are lots of loyal readers out there - they will stay - just don't forget these customers when trying to attract new ones.

In 2013, it will pay-off for Newsweek executives and staff to remember these words from Brown: 

Newsweek Global, "... will be a single, worldwide edition targeted for a highly mobile, opinion-leading audience who want to learn about world events in a sophisticated manner." 

"Exiting print is an extremely difficult moment for all of us who love the romance of print and the unique weekly camaraderie of those hectic hours before close on Friday night. But as we head for the 80th anniversary of Newsweek next year we must sustain the journalism that gives the magazine its purpose - and embrace the all-digital future." 

"It is about the challenging economics of print publishing and distribution."

So what makes one consumer product have consistent longevity versus other products that seem to disappear after only a year? Think of the car: chances are very high that you have a car and you might even have two cars. Yes, there are folks out there who don't own a car and get around by public transport, bicycle and walking - but this is rare. The fact is we need to get around and the car is the tool that does this most easily for us.

Automotive manufacturers continue to innovate but at its most simple, a car is about four wheels, an engine, a steering wheel, brakes and a gas pedal. A car can be as simple or extravagant as you want and regardless of your budget - you'll find one that meets your needs and wants.

Now reach into your pocket and pull out your mobile phone... Think about this mobile phone and how you use it. Likely your mobile phone isn't really just a phone with which you call and talk to people - rather this phone is more than likely a multi-functioning device that has so many features on it that it can be hard to fully understand everything your phone can do for you. In fact these mobile phone features have spawned an entirely new industry: the smartphone market. Most people have one of these smartphones - teenagers, university students, your colleagues, your parents, etc. Yes, just like those folks who eschew the car there are some people lugging around big and clunky Motorola phones with long antennas on them - but this is an increasing minority.

So what has made the mobile phone such a crucial part of our day-to-day? Essentially intelligent marketing and some forward-thinkers. Innovation is at the root of this boom we're seeing in the smartphone market. The key to this innovation as we have realised in the past five years is in not getting too complacent or believing consumers are satisfied.

Remember the Palm Treo? This was for a time a niche gadget that early adopters were using and soon could not live without. Hmm, likely now if you ask your colleague about the Palm Treo, he or she won't be able to tell you much about it. What about the BlackBerry? Now this smartphone hasn't completely disappeared off the store shelves but RIM is slowly but surely losing its market share and its fans along with it. Once coined the "CrackBerry" with folks becoming addicted to the vibrating BlackBerry - less than 10% of North Americans are now using this smartphone.

So what happened? Well think back to the car. We need cars to get around - we rely on them and they are part of our lives. The smartphone? Well, we want it - but we didn't necessarily need it. And this is why innovation is so crucial. A car can remain very basic and people will still buy it - this is not the case with smartphones. Instead it was up to marketers and designers to convince us that we needed a smartphone - and they have succeeded in doing this.

Now consumers don't want a mobile phone, instead they want the latest and greatest smartphone on the market. Failure to innovate and push the boundaries with phone design, features, and apps has resulted in the slow and steady demise of the likes of Palm and the BlackBerry. Instead we're seeing Apple and Google really taking control of the smartphone market. Two of the most forward-thinking and innovative companies who when they decided to make a move into the smartphone market were quickly dismissed by pundits.

For example, in March 2007 industry analyst John C. Dvorak said "Apple should pull the plug on the iPhone" since "There is no likelihood that Apple can be successful in a business this competitive". Dvorak also said "This is not an emerging business. In fact it's gone so far that it's in the process of consolidation with probably two players dominating everything, Nokia Corp. and Motorola Inc."

Wow, how current thinking and reality have changed. Sure Nokia and Motorola still make phones but they would hardly be considered dominating players. Now it is all about Apple and Google. Apple is recognized worldwide as being a leader and in pushing out to consumer what we didn't realize we needed. Google has followed suit with leading the charge with its online products and translating this thinking to its operating system running the key competitors to the iPhone.

So what does this mean? Well, going back to the four-wheeled car analogy again - think about how you use your car. Could you get by without it - sure it would be painful and your lifestyle would have change to a great deal - quite frankly, these are changes and adjustments you don't want to make. Now think of your smartphone. Can you get by without it - well the answer is likely going to be a resounding "No" - you rely on it for business use and personal use and somehow it is "part" of you.

Based on need the car has become central to our day-to-day lives. Based on want the smartphone has become an integral part of our day-to-day lives. What will be interesting over the next few years is in seeing if the smartphone market actually stabilises with only a two or three key players - with the other companies finally drifting away from the space. Consumers are at a point that just like the car, they believe they want and need a smartphone... Those companies that continue to drive market growth and technology will be the ones we'll be watching two years from now. At its most basic, surviving in a turbulent business world comes down to want and need.

Years ago, the Internet itself was also in a similar unique situation. There were web pages and websites out there - people were creating blogs, some companies were creating websites to promote their services, newspapers and magazines were posting their content online - but it was still slow-going. It took some savvy marketers and brands to realise that there was a giant untouched market of folks sitting in front of computer monitors who were and are willing to download, subscribe to and a pay for content.

This understanding of how people react to websites and online marketing was the springboard for app developers and brands when it came to understanding how to benefit from the smartphone and tablet market. More and more brands are hiring app development teams to create mobile magazines, apps that create games that promote their products, and apps that drive users to tap the subscribe button.

This didn't happen overnight - but it did happen rather quickly. Marketers and savvy boardroom executives realised that if they didn't act fast to convince consumers why they need to download their apps or subscribe to their news feed - they would lose this audience and it would be hard to get them back on-board.

This brings us to Connected TVs. For some time now, Connected TVs have been the "next big thing"... Marketers, developers and advertisers have been pushing Connected TVs and telling consumers that these smart televisions really will change their viewing experience. But there is something missing from all of this. While people are buying Connected TVs and have enabled-devices such as an Xbox in their living room, they are slow to get truly immersed in the Connected TV experience. Unlike the smartphone and tablet experience where most anyone can tell you how and why their device is cool, useful, and has contributed to solving some problems in their life - the Connected TV is not receiving the same platitudes.

There are a number of theories on why this is the case. One argument is that it is too complicated to set-up the Connected TV. But frankly this argument doesn't hold water when the same consumers are able to set-up a home WiFi network and understand how to store files in Dropbox. The more dominant and logical argument is that consumers simply don't see or understand the true value of their Connected TVs.

This rests squarely with the app developers, marketers and brands who are involved with Connected TVs. These innovators need to remember that to consumers, a Connected TV is still very simply still a television. They relate to it just like they did their older television - they want to be guided and directed to what they want to watch and still like to channel surf. Brands and app developers need to act on this and capitalise on this known behaviour and follow through with it. Recent studies have shown that most people who are sitting down to watch television are doing so with a smartphone or tablet in their hands - so they are getting entertainment from two channels at the same time. This is the perfect opportunity for brands to act on this and show consumers how they can connect their Connected TV to the app on the on their smartphone or tablet.

The other key aspect to traditional television viewing behaviour that ties directly to the social nature of the Internet is how people like to enjoy television. Viewers like to watch television with their friends and family. Think of a Formula 1 race - fans will get together at one house and watch the race together - chatting about the race, eating food and generally sharing the experience together. This is just what Connected TV needs to focus on - the communal and shared nature of television watching. Brands and advertisers have audiences who are already doing something together - so now get them engaged.

The most popular app on Connected TVs is still NetFlix. The second most popular app is YouTube. Aren't Connected TVs designed to be more than streaming devices for online entertainment? It is actually kind of hard to see how Connected TVs are often called smart TVs with the way brands and advertisers are still off the mark. The success and future of Connected TVs rests squarely with brands, app developers and marketers - they need to remember that just because the technology is available doesn't mean that people will use it or understand it. It has been easy in recent years to rely on early-adopters and in being "the next big thing" to make a product or device successful - but real sustainability of Connected TVs requires serious attention on behalf of brands, advertisers and app developers.