Industry experts gather in Cambridge to focus on Internet of Things

Over 300 leading wireless experts and business leaders will be converging in Cambridge next week for The 5th Future of Wireless International Conference to explore the rapidly emerging ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT). In the opening session, ‘What is the Internet Of Things and Why Should I Care?’, Prof Christopher M. Bishop, FREng, FRSE and distinguished scientist from Microsoft Research will deliver his vision of 50 billion connected devices and the opportunities for new products and services  in a data-rich, highly connected world. 

“We are on the threshold of a major global shift in the use of wireless technology by being able to give any number of physical objects an online digital presence,” says David Cleevely CBE, Chairman of Cambridge Wireless. “But we need to differentiate between hyperbole and reality, understand the opportunities and grasp the technical challenges. There is a real excitement and momentum building and The Future of Wireless International Conference this year will help answer these questions and play a part in shaping future strategies.”

Keynote speaker Stuart Orr, Managing Director, Communications Industry, Accenture will be reflecting this mood but also highlighting some of the challenges: "While the Internet of Things has the potential to transform our everyday lives, those businesses aiming to deliver its benefits face an increasingly challenging environment. Not only is there a proliferation of sensors, controls and connected devices, but there is also a rapidly expanding volume of data generated by both humans and machines that needs to be transmitted, stored and analysed in real time. This ability to manage systems from devices through to big data analytics end-to-end will be critical to success as we build an ecosystem for the Internet of Things that will create value for businesses, consumers and society.”

Other speakers include Mike Short Vice President of Public Affairs, at Telefonica Europe; Warren East, outgoing CEO of ARM; Stuart Orr, Managing Director, Communications Industry, Accenture; Seigmund Redl, Vice President and General Manager Corporate Marketing Europe, MediaTek; and Rolf Meakin, Partner from PwC. Organised by Cambridge Wireless - the not-for-profit industry forum with a network of nearly 400 members involved in the development and application of wireless technologies – The 5th Future of Wireless International Conference takes place on 1st and 2nd of July at The Møller Centre in Cambridge.

With predictions that ten times more ‘things’ than people will join the internet within the next ten years, the conference will also focus on how to create value and realise the IoT with sessions on smart cities and smart living; technology to connect 50 billion devices; is IoT exciting and innovative - or just M2M with a consumer focus; big data and large scale opportunities for user profiling and service customisation; and business models for an economically viable IoT.

Further speakers at the conference include: John Cunliffe, CTO Ericsson Western & Central Europe; Steve Townsend, Group CIO, Transport for London; Frank Mackel, UK Managing Director, Rohde & Schwarz; Moray Rumney, Lead Technologist, Agilent Technologies; Paul Green, Technology & Marketing Director, Arkessa; Nello Cristianini, Professor of Artificial Intelligence, University of Bristol; Andy Bovingdon, VP Product Marketing, Bango; Robin Duke-Woolley, Beecham Research; Dr Ekta Sood, Head of Products, Hildago; Rob Barnes, Senior Director, Java Product Management, Oracle; Stephen Deadman, Head of Legal Privacy, Vodafone.

The Cambridge Debate, chaired by Peter Day, Business Correspondent at the BBC, will pose the view that: ‘This house believes that mobile network operators will not be winners in the Internet of Things.' Speaking for the motion will be James Collier, CTO of Neul, who will be challenged by Alex Sinclair, CTO at GSMA. The conference will also offer hands-on workshops, facilitated brainstorms and panels, alongside established plenary sessions and exhibition zones. An Innovation Hothouse will showcase the winners of the 2012 Discovering Start-Ups competition for next generation wireless companies.

Cambridge Wireless is partnering with UK Trade and Investment and ICT Knowledge Transfer Network, while sponsors of The Future of Wireless International Conference include Accenture, Qualcomm, MediaTek, PwC, Ranplan, Rohde & Schwarz, TTP, Microlease, Cambridge Consultants, S-Tech Insurance, IC Group, InterDigital, Arkessa, u-blox AG, Freescale, Jaltek Group,  Broadcom, Anite, Microwave Marketing, Argon Design, Real Wireless and NVIDIA.

For more information, please visit http://www.cambridgewireless.co.uk/futureofwireless

For more information, please contact:
Peter Rennison or Allie Andrews
PRPR
01442 245030, [email protected] / [email protected]

Lily Cheng
Cambridge Wireless
01223 422365, [email protected]