NB: We asked the Tnooz Nodes to reflect on their Predictions 2010 from 12 months ago - do they have Oracle status or did something come along to derail their forecasts.
Stephen Joyce (Rezgo)
Prediction 2010 #1:
Google will finally release a phone capable of competing with the iPhone, both in terms of performance and stylishness. This will result in a surge in mobile applications developed for the Android.
Although this will initially have little effect on the stronghold that Nokia has on the European and Asian markets, we will see the North American fragment further with Android taking market share from both the iPhone and Blackberry markets.
The new Google phone will allow convergence of various Google technologies including more social applications based on Google FriendConnect, maps, latitude, tours, and Street View.
On reflection:
Google Nexus One did set a new bar for Android phones and as a result we saw a surge in the development of high end Android 2.1 and 2.2 smartphones that now compete quite handily with iPhones and certainly with Blackberry. Android market has also increased and more travel applications are being ported to Android.
Prediction 2010 #2:
Alternate distribution will be the name of the game. There will be a surge in the number of micro-distribution channels throughout the accommodations and tour and activity space.
Individual hotels and chains will be using new and existing technologies to automate concierge functions and provide their guests with a more inclusive experience.
Clever hoteliers will turn their hotels into tourism information and booking hubs for the guests. DMOs, desperate for funds after two years of cuts and reductions, will be looking at new revenue sources. As distribution channels they will want to provide a common interface by promoting standard messaging and connectivity.
On reflection:
Alternate distribution didn't have as much of an impact as I had hoped. We did, however, see a surge in travel planning websites including a new batch of "social" travel planning sites as witnessed at the PhoCusWright travel innovation summit.