Communication is power. Communication for long has enabled a whole new chapter in a nation’s history. As we reach the end of 2005, it is time to reflect how the year panned out.

It has been a promising year for the communication and wireless sector, with rapid evolution and change in the wireless space compared to 2004. In the past year, every one is lisping about Asian tigers—India and China—becoming the next Wireless hub of the world. It is clearly evident with a large population and a growing wireless subscriber base makes Asia the hot bed of wireless.

The latest report from In-Stat states, by 2009 about 45 percent of all WiMAX subscribers in the world will be in the Asia Pacific region.

On the home front, improved mobile networks, including 3G, and new applications will help push the U.S. wireless market growth in the next five years. With youngsters embracing all sorts of wireless gears, the youth will remain the single biggest customers for wireless for the next few years. Increasing demand for handsets will further fuel the growth. Wireless broadband opens new market opportunities and challenges.

As businesses seek to further streamline communications and operations; and as consumers seek a more “connected wirefree” life-wireless networking technologies are increasing in demand. The percentage of IT investment dollars devoted to wireless sensing has been rising. Freedom and accessibility matters.

Today, consumers and professionals alike frantically search out Internet “hot zones” for their laptops. They stay connected to home and work through pocket-sized handheld devices. Cell phone, as Marshall McLuhan said, has become the extension of the human hand, omnipresent with the user.

As usual, entrepreneurs across the spectrum of wireless opportunities focus on creating innovative solutions for this enormously exciting market. Players in the wireless space are enjoying rising stock prices, startups are tapping into willing venture capital, and IPOs have passed from the realm of fantasy to possibility.

With the maturing wireless market, Fremont, CA based SiRF bet on the GPS technology. The journey of SiRF has been fast and worthwhile. The founders thought ahead of the market and SiRF has been a catalyst for bringing “The power of location information” to the masses.

It is said, the probability of success is higher if you think ahead of time. That’s exactly what Miten Mehta did. His company MoConDi, which provides 3G content services, was acquired by Norwegian company, MobileMedia.

Quite a few entrepreneurs are working on innovative solutions that integrate the wireless world with the existing infrastructure or physical world. One company to watch out in this space is Ashok Teckchandani’s Ayantra.

While Ayantra’s solutions help in tracking physical assets, Mountain View CA based Xora’s mobile workforce management solutions helps in tracking employees—an important asset for any organization.

There are enormous opportunities for entrepreneurs to build innovative applications around wireless technologies. One company that powers a broad range of voice and data services is Ecrio.

We believe SiRF, Xora, Ayantra, Ecrio are some of the interesting companies to watch out for within the wireless arena. Let us know what you think.


Pradeep Shankar
editor@siliconindia.com