Ed Zander: Innovation in a Changing World
Motorola's CEO sees the dawn of the "Age of Mobility," outlines the market opportunities and shares strategies for innovation.
By Maryann Jones Thompson, Sand Hill Group
Jun. 02, 2007
Taking the stage at Software 2007 in May, Motorola CEO Ed Zander had just emerged victorious from a battle with shareholder activist, Carl Icahn, and would soon debut a set of five new products aimed at taking the company in a new direction.
California felt good to Zander. Prior to taking the top spot at Motorola in 2004, he had spent many years in the Silicon Valley as managing director with private equity firm, Silver Lake Partners, and president and COO of Sun Microsystems.
Zander's keynote address reminded attendees of the rapidly-approaching mobile future and shared insight on the challenges and opportunities associated with innovation in a large company.
The Mobile Market Arrives
Zander explained how advances in mobile, broadband and content technologies have combined to bring the mobile market to reality.
"When I spoke last time, at a conference like this, a lot of this mobile market might have been new. But now, it is happening - and it is happening big time…
Mobile is going everywhere around the world. It touches every company, every person, every home... It is in security and public safety… There isn't a discussion you have today that doesn't include mobile.
Broadband is everywhere. It has finally come to the U.S. - surprisingly, it is kind of behind here, but it is rapidly traveling across the Far East, Europe…
Content goes everywhere. Once you enable the pipes, the devices, and the digitization of the content, the next-generation opportunity is to have content everywhere.
California felt good to Zander. Prior to taking the top spot at Motorola in 2004, he had spent many years in the Silicon Valley as managing director with private equity firm, Silver Lake Partners, and president and COO of Sun Microsystems.
Zander's keynote address reminded attendees of the rapidly-approaching mobile future and shared insight on the challenges and opportunities associated with innovation in a large company.
The Mobile Market Arrives
Zander explained how advances in mobile, broadband and content technologies have combined to bring the mobile market to reality.
"When I spoke last time, at a conference like this, a lot of this mobile market might have been new. But now, it is happening - and it is happening big time…
Mobile is going everywhere around the world. It touches every company, every person, every home... It is in security and public safety… There isn't a discussion you have today that doesn't include mobile.
Broadband is everywhere. It has finally come to the U.S. - surprisingly, it is kind of behind here, but it is rapidly traveling across the Far East, Europe…
Content goes everywhere. Once you enable the pipes, the devices, and the digitization of the content, the next-generation opportunity is to have content everywhere.
