Abstract
Despite the increase in the number of mobile and related services becoming
available over the past few years, small and medium-sized businesses are still
underserved by MNOs in terms of mobile communications products and services
designed and built specifically for their use. Yet the SME market is
potentially a very lucrative one, with large numbers of workers being employed
in these types of enterprise across all geographic markets.
The rapid increase in ownership of smartphones and tablet devices has helped
the move towards the consumerisation of IT with the merging of communications
and IT products. In addition there has been increasing convergence of fixed
and mobile services and a rapid increase in the availability of products and
services being offered via the cloud. These trends mean that SMEs, despite
their frequent lack of IT skills, can take advantage of relatively
sophisticated software and services that are scalable to almost any size of
enterprise, and at almost any price point they choose.
The provision of the mobile cloud is seen as a key component of mobile
business propositions, although it is still at a speculative stage in many
markets, and it is still unclear whether the mobile cloud is an opportunity or
a threat for MNOs. In a bid to make it an opportunity, some MNOs have moved
rapidly into providing cloud services, and are finding a role for themselves
offering infrastructure, platforms and communications into the business
community via the cloud. Many of the services on offer, however, are intended
for large enterprises and multi-national companies, with offers for SMEs being
more limited. A lot of MNOs have yet to commit to offering cloud propositions
at all.
This report looks at the current situation in the SME market for converged and
cloud propositions with a discussion and examples of how well some MNOs are
addressing the opportunity. It concludes with findings and recommendations for
MNOs aimed at supporting them in optimising their approach to the SME market.
About Mobile Market Development Ltd.
Mobile Market Development Ltd.(MMD) delivers market development support, highlighting and quantifying
opportunities to increase mobile operator company profits.
Over 10 years custom consulting and continuous research analysis of global
mobile markets provides us with a real understanding of the challenges faced
by our clients.
Table of Contents
Overview
2. Introduction
- 2.1. Background to the Report
- 2.2. Currency and Conversions
- 2.3. Further Questions and Feedback
3. Cloud Computing & Convergence - Some Definitions
- 3.1. Definition of Computing in the Cloud
- 3.1.1. Types of Cloud Service
- 3.1.1.1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
- 3.1.1.2. Software as a Service (SaaS)
- 3.1.1.3. Platform as a Service (PaaS)
- 3.2. Convergence
- 3.3. SME Business Characteristics
4. Mobile Cloud Computing for SMEs
- 4.1. Introduction
- 4.2. Advantages
- 4.3. Disadvantages
- 4.3.1. Security
- 4.3.2. Service Level Agreements
- 4.3.3. Customisation
- 4.3.4. Connectivity
5. MNO Cloud Services for SMEs
- 5.1. Introduction
- 5.2. Turkcell
- 5.3. AT&T Cloud Services
- 5.4. Digicel
- 5.5. Maxis Cloud
- 5.6. NTT
- 5.7. Orange
- 5.8. Portugal Telecom
- 5.9. Swisscom
- 5.9.1. KMU Business Box
- 5.9.2. Saperion
- 5.9.3. Microsoft Office 365
- 5.1. Telecom Italia
- 5.11. Telefonica
- 5.11.1. Intel
- 5.11.2. VMware
- 5.11.3. Regional Cloud Solutions
- 5.11.3.1. Latin America
- 5.11.3.2. Spain
- 5.11.3.3. UK
6. Key Findings & Recommendations
- 6.1. Conclusions
- 6.2. Recommendations
- Appendix - Feedback Questions
