Expert Looks to Smarter Applications for 4G at 4GWE Conference, ITEXPO

With all the buzz over 4G wireless technologies, it’s hard for telecom professionals not to wonder about the next big embedded wireless app for smartphones.

 

But Mary Cronin, a panelist at the 4GWE Confernce – to be held in Los Angeles Sept. 1-3 – is among those interested useful applications beyond the iPhone or Blackberry. Cronin, a professor with the Information Systems department at Boston College, gave me a glimpse into her upcoming panel discussion, “Beyond the App Store: Smarter Applications for 4G,” which will delve into some of the most innovative mobile apps on the horizon (like wireless energy-monitoring solutions).

 

In Los Angeles, Cronin will be joined by four other experts: Joe Jumayao, director of business development at nPhase (a Verizon and Qualcomm joint venture); Paul Nagel, vice president of strategic development at Control 4 and Dr. Frederic Raab, lead systems engineer for mobile health-research projects at USCD, School of Medicine.

 

Our full exchange follows.

Marisa Torrieri: Can you tell me a little bit about the panel - what you hope to get across to attendees that they might not know about?

 

Mary Cronin (pictured left): I organized this panel to highlight the importance of smart, connected products in delivering innovative applications to consumers and to the enterprise. There is lots of discussion of mobile App Store models, but we are seeing many other wireless devices in the market besides mobile phones. Smart connected health products and wireless energy monitoring solutions represent multi-billion dollar markets where business strategies are still in flux. It’s important to track the early market leaders and understand the huge potential of these embedded wireless apps. So that’s the focus of the panel and I know that attendees will get new insights about what’s happening in these markets. We have a terrific group of presenters:

 

MC: This panel will cover embedded wireless applications and business models for the consumer and enterprise space, with a focus on smart connected consumer products, mobile health, home and energy markets. We’ll be discussing leading edge applications as well as the connectivity and ecosystems that are needed for success in smart embedded apps. That should be interesting to a lot of the conference attendees!

MT: What are some of the coolest wireless applications that are appearing in smart appliances, cars and homes?

 

MC: The mobile health area is really amazing – everything from smart wireless pills that send diagnostic data from your digestive tract to personal health sensor networks embedded in your clothing. And of course, smart energy monitoring and embedded wireless for home appliances and thermostats is spreading fast. So are real time two-way navigation systems for cars.

MT: Do you encounter any of those in your day to day life?

 

MC: I’m definitely an early adopter of smart products. I’ve got a variety of energy monitors and connected home entertainment systems and a Kindle with embedded wireless. So far, no mobile health apps, but maybe that will change after I hear the latest options from the panelists.