Mobile Breakfast Series
http://mobilebreakfastseries.com/
Operators and OTT: The way forward
Seattle, June 7th 8:30-10:00am
Operator traditional revenue streams are under threat esp. voice and messaging. Access margins will continue to stay under pressure. OTT players are coming in fast and furious and it is not just the big ones like Google but also players like Whatsapp, Voxer, Viber and others. How do operators play in the new landscape – lessen the decline of their traditional revenues while investing in new areas that improve their overall margins and revenues. Do they play the role of an enabler, a utility player, or become the OTT player themselves? In a software-driven world, how do they stay nimble? On the flip side, what are some things that operators can provide to the OTT players that make them successful, take them to the market quickly and maintain a long-term healthy and mutually-beneficial partnership? Operators still generate 70% of the global mobile industry revenues, so they are an important part of the chain but how do they ensure they have an equally relevant share in the profits. The panel will discuss how operators and OTT players think about the challenges and the opportunities, the competition and the coopetition.
Abhi Ingle, VP, Advanced Technology Solutions, AT&T
Abhi Ingle leads the national Industry & Mobility Application Solutions team which has responsibility for solution sales to the business customer segment. Prior to this role, Ingle led the Business Solutions marketing and products organization, overseeing wireless data products and marketing programs for business customers. Abhi spent several years at McKinsey and Company where he served technology, consumer package goods and financial services clients on strategy, marketing and sales engagements.
Michael Shim, VP – Mobile, Groupon
Michael Shim is the Vice President of Mobile Partnerships and Marketing at Groupon. He is responsible for developing the company’s partnerships with wireless operators, OEMs, mobile platforms and developers worldwide in addition to overseeing mobile marketing in the U.S. Prior to his current assignment, Michael served as Vice President, Mobile Partnerships and Business Development at Yahoo!, where he was charged with developing Yahoo!’s mobile leadership and deep relationships with more than 100 mobile partners around the world. In addition, Michael has held business development and strategy positions at AOL and began his career as a corporate lawyer with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett where he specialized in M&A and securities offerings in the telecom, media and technology sectors. Michael holds a B.A. from Georgetown University and a J.D. from Cornell Law School.
Alex Samano, GM – Bobsled , T-Mobile USA
Alex is one of a handful of internal business entrepreneurs at T-Mobile USA. Over the last seven years he has been responsible for building out new business units as General Manager. Alex has raised over $34M for businesses now delivering $600M+ in annual revenues for T-Mobile including: Bobsled by T-Mobile, T-Mobile @Home, Wi-Fi Calling, and over 10 different T-Mobile branded applications. Alex’s work has led to over 25 patent filings by T-Mobile USA in the last 4 years, where he is listed as an inventor. The New York Times, PC World, Engadget, TechCrunch, CNET, and Information Week have featured Alex’s work.
Rob Glaser, Chairman/CoFounder, Sidecar
Rob Glaser has played an integral role in the transformation of the Internet into the next great mass medium. He founded Real Networks in 1994 and served as Real‘s CEO from February 1994 through January 2010, leading the company from scratch to a public offering in 1997 and over $500 Million in annual revenue by 2008. Prior to founding RealNetworks, Mr. Glaser worked for Microsoft for 10 years in a number of executive positions, including Vice President of Multimedia and Consumer Systems. In addition to co-founding Sidecar, in May of 2010, Mr. Glaser also became a Venture Partner with Accel Partners with a focus on digital, mobile, and social media. In addition to his commercial endeavors, Mr. Glaser is active in civic and philanthropic matters. In 1993, he founded The Glaser Progress Foundation which has made over $25 Million in grants focused on 4 program areas: Measuring Progress, Animal Advocacy, Independent Media, and Treatment and Prevention of Global HIV/AIDS.
Mary Jesse, CEO, Ivycorp
Ms. Jesse is a seasoned technology and business professional with 25 years of experience in product development and delivery. She holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Electrical Engineering and is listed as an author on more than 12 U.S. and International Patents. Ms. Jesse has held a variety of executive positions including Vice President of Strategic Technology for McCaw Cellular Communications, Vice President of Technology Development for AT&T Wireless, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of RadioFrame Networks (delivering small scale wireless base stations and 2G/3G femtocells), and the Founder of Hexagon Blue Consulting (wireless systems and public safety communications consulting for police, fire and emergency personnel). Ms. Jesse was instrumental in developing and deploying the first large scale wireless data systems in the U.S. and has led development teams in the architecture, design and launch of numerous systems and products. Mary Jesse is a Licensed Professional Electrical Engineer.