Folks
This post is
long overdue, and IBM Impact 2013 was busy, amazing, productive and exhausting all at
the same time. I think many of these Conferences like IBM Impact2013
challenges us in many ways, our
bodies, our mind and ability to deliver a meaningful and tailored message is
not an easy task. I was amazed to
meet many brilliant colleagues and such events makes one humble and fortunate
at the same time to be a part of interesting evolution in our lifetime.
Mobile
Yes it was a certainly a hot topic, and it was evident that
we have moved our conversation from Why? To How? Which indicates a certain level of Maturity. IBM MobileFirst message was loud and the relevance of the topic was
very well received.
Another
Important thing that I learned is that Mobile is NOT just about Mobile application
but more than that. The ‘System of engagement’ and/or ‘Internet of things’ that
we talk about is real and here. Here
are a few nuggets:
1.
Maturity in M2M or M2X and ‘Connected’
vehicle is seen a trend that will change the way we live. Networks are gearing up to provision the bandwidth and special 4G LTE offering and Auto Manufacturers are ramping up the
“Connected Vehicle’ offering.
Google
This: M2m Multi-Operator alliance – include NTT Docomo, Etilsalat,
Telefonica are promoting a common standard.
Real ‘Smart cars” – Fords AppLink lets driver
do interesting things with Glympse app. GM announced 4G LTE technology in their
cars, Volvo ‘Connected Vehicle cloud’, Toyota ‘Friend’ – trends
indicating that Cars may be ultimate Mobile devices and possibilities for
commerce, retail, automobile and others are immense
2.
Internet of Things is also Mobile:
This is real, where now the system of Interaction is the system of engagement i.e.
my utility appliances can be instruments, intelligent and interconnected.
Google
This: Qualcomm – Alljoyn – Open source software that enables this
technology for these appliances to not only communicate but be controlled. –
Intelligent.
3. mHealth, mEducation. And so on… so I am
now convinced that this is big
Thought:
Think Optimized Mobile Middleware:
We need to think about ‘Security’ and ‘Scalability’ –
and from a ‘Systems’ perspective, I think we should look at all ‘touch points’
of my enterprise that includes the device as it is now an extension of my
enterprise. Because: my application/app,
an agent or a process that is ‘engaging’ with my enterprise is running on that
‘Device’. –something to think about!!
API
Management:
API
Management is relevant. I think this is not an
accident but a trend that we should not only be aware of but also understand.
API management I think like Cloud is an important part of the mobile story. Here is why:
1.
API
management is – Well, let’s us say a ‘Public persona’ and provides
Middleware services tool to manage and operate the services that are hit by
Mobile devices and other applications.
2.
It is a contract between an API provider and consumer.
This contract dictates the data packaging and/or business logic. With the
volume and diversity of type of requests from different types of applications (
Mobile/web/cars etc) API management has become relevant and create a
‘Marketplace’ where producers and consumers thrive.
3.
This is vital to understand, I discuss the ‘unintended
consequences’ of going mobile, which is known to increase the traffic
and response time burden by almost
10X. Think of increase in status checks, content download and like ‘Mobile
Transactions’. So an unplanned App or a
mobile app without backing of a mobile strategy and planning can swamp network, and connections to
middleware services. API management
and ‘Marketplace’ also gives Mobile application developers a rich choice of APIs to use for
consistent and accessible interface that can be governed and managed.
Forrester (think tank) suggests thinking of API management as Cloud Connect
Technology that lets the data in the Cloud/data center get out and back to the
Mobile app that needs it.. securely.
A typical API management solution will include :
a.
Developer Portal – signup and
understand the use and consumption of APIs.
b.
API Gateway – tom mediate and govern
the traffic between consumer and provider.
c.
API Lifecycle management – simple
Governance enforcement.
Let us take time to understand how this can speed up
development and deployment of Mobile and adaptive web applications.
Cloud –
Increasingly important for Mobile presence.
So, I have always believed
that we can always do a better job
in Cloud delivery than we have in the past. Cloud we define is a ‘Service Delivery and Consumption”
model, and regardless of the medium, virtualization technologies involved it is about network and access to “Stuff” on demand.
We are seeing that clients expect a certain level of Cloud integration for things like Storage, profile
access, application data, application provisioning, application and runtime hosting and on and on… idea
being that we want the
‘enterprise’ to consume data, APIs
and quickly ‘compose’ application that can then be deployed quickly, forming of
a web of services. While this seems enticing and natural extension to Mobile
way of doing things, such initiatives require planning around security,
governance, management and availability of network. But IMHO for us to success
in marketplace a ‘cloud integration’ is a
must.
As always I would like to hear your thoughts,
Have a great
week!
:)
Nitin
