Innovation checklist for Mobile World Congress

All eyes will be set on Microsoft this week as the Mobile World Congress kicks off in Barcelona, with the tech giant about to unveil Windows 8.  

Yet, there is more to this congress than just the unveiling of the new operating system. 

The congress will also showcase of 1400 companies moves towards a market driven by mobility. Also, up to 10,000 app companies are expected to be in attendance, highlighting the close relationship between devlopers and device manufactuers. 

With the future of mobile on display will be at the forefront of this event, here's what the analysts from Ovum are on the lookout for. 

Talks on how to manage a booming growth in mobile data traffic: Steven Hartley

The progress made by operators in responding to the increase in mobile data traffic will be interesting to note at this year's event.

We expect to see more evidence of maturity and pragmatism from operators, and fewer demands that everyone must play by their rules. Operators' growing realisation of their position in the ecosystem means that the watchwords at MWC will be “partnership” and “co-operation” as telcos look to minimise the impact that mobile data traffic growth will have on their profitability.

Wi-fi infrastructure as a necessary tool for the future:  Daryl Schoolar

Wi-Fi will be a major infrastructure theme at this year's MWC. There have already been several product announcements prior to the congress, highlighted by Alcatel-Lucent's lightRadio Wi-Fi introduction.

While Wi-Fi was once merely tolerated by the mobile community, this year's event will fully cement the technology as an integral part of mobile operators' infrastructure strategies.

Telco to put their faith in third-party innovations: Emeka Obiodu

Innovation will yet again be a buzzword at this year's event. Whether it is from the telcos themselves, the numerous vendors hoping to partner with telcos, or the over-the-top players that can afford to go it alone, we expect the congress to be awash with new product and service launches.

We are particularly keen to see innovations that leverage the telcos' core capabilities in other areas.

Telco's to up their customer service management game: Mark Giles

Customer experience management will be the buzzword at this year's congress. While the term is perhaps becoming over-used, this only serves to demonstrate just how much work is still required for telcos to meet their customers' service expectations.

Meanwhile, Informa Telecoms and Media analyst, Mark Newman, is expecting to see innovation on a number of consumer and commercial fronts.

He says that Mobile to mobile technology will “go mainstream this year” with “leading global infrastructure vendors parading their newly-found expertise in service management platforms”.

Mr Newman also says that medical applications will gain some momentum and cloud technology will be at the forefront of change.