Market Leader Programs
5G Transport - A 2023 Heavy Reading Survey
2023 Open RAN Operator Survey
Coherent Optics at 100G, 400G, and Beyond
Open RAN Platforms and Architectures Operator Survey
Cloud Native 5G Core Operator Survey
Bridging the Digital Divide
5G Network Slicing Operator Survey
Open, Automated & Programmable Transport
The Journey to Cloud Native
The companies that can combine all of those assets to create personal assistants that go beyond simple reactions to rudimentary questions ("where is the nearest restaurant?" "what's the weather like in Poughkeepsie?") will end up with incredibly valuable databases on consumer behavior. The first company that can build a holistic model of consumer behavior that takes in all activity -- at home and at work -- could make itself relevant to consumers for years to come, which will make it relevant to advertisers for years to come, and if the first one to do that isn't Google, that company is going to be wresting a nice chunk of ad business from Google.
And thus Microsoft snatches up LinkedIn. It's not a guaranteed payoff, but Microsoft can absolutely afford it. It's a bet, but it's not much of a gamble; it makes sense.
And if buying LinkedIn does pay off, will it pay off next year? Not a chance. But Microsoft and its rivals are playing the long game.
--Brian Santo