We’ve been keeping a close eye on the 2010 Computex Show in Taipei. Drawing many of the top companies in technology and mobility, Computex never disappoints with exciting product announcements and setting new trends. This year three different topics around the excitement of connected devices caught our attention:

• Tablets Becoming Ubiquitous: While connected devices continue to reign supreme, the buzz seems to be the tablet. Dell was on-hand showcasing its Streak. While Taiwanese companies Acer and Asustek announced their new products, MeeGo and Eee Pad. We’ve seen and played around with the Streak and have to agree with pundits that claim it is a “game changing” experience.
• Battle of the Processors and Wireless Modules: Chipmakers Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm are hungry for mind-share among the connected devices manufacturers. All promise more powerful processors that can handle multimedia at lower power consumptions. It will be interesting to see how these giants evolve their technologies to better handle the demands of smartphones and connected devices. We continue to be surprised by the demand of “soft” wireless modules that allow users to decide what networks to activate on without replacing any hardware or modules. As such we believe the Gobi chip has a leg up.
• Options in OS: Microsoft previewed its Windows Embedded Compact 7 — the latest re-branded version of Windows CE, which is already planned for tablets from Asus, LG, and MSI. Similarly Google’s Vice President of Product Management Sundar Pichai told the Computex audience that their Chrome OS, which is targeted for connected devices such as tablets, will be available in the fourth quarter.

With Apple iPads selling at a rate of one every three seconds worldwide, there is no doubt that the market for connected devices is peaking and consumers are lining up in droves for all types of new gadgets.

Aside from the cool new devices, we continue to see innovative go-to-market strategies from service providers, retailers/e-tailers and OEMs. Everyone is looking to leverage the market opportunity of connected devices; we look forward to helping our customers deliver the best customer experience!