From Andrew Seybold

The wireless industry is at a crossroads. Our business models are being questioned, and those who have recently discovered wireless believe the industry needs to change to better serve those who want wireless access to everything they have access to on their desktops.

In 2007, we saw the introduction of the iPhone and Google’s Android operating system, and network operators either proclaiming their openness or pledging a new degree of openness.

By the evening of the 18th Andrew Seybold Wireless Dinner, we will probably know who won the 700-MHz spectrum at auction. Chances are the results will change the face of the industry, regardless of who the winning bidders are or their plans for the spectrum. New devices, new types of voice and data access and even new pricing models will emerge over the next few years.

Embrace the Past

Embrace the industry's past. It is important that we review the past, determining what has worked and what has not. This industry, like so many others, has typically repeated mistakes of the past without learning from them. It is time to Embrace the past, learn from both our successes and mistakes and grow from them. Our past holds a rich history of pioneers, new technologies and experimentation, some that worked and some that did not. By understanding what we did right, and what went wrong, we can help ensure our success as we go forward.

Empower the Present

Understand how we have Empowered our present. The industry is undergoing dramatic changes. Today, there are more wireless phones than wired phones. Our wireless devices are morphing into more than simply phones, they are becoming the focal point of our mobile life and lifestyle. It is important for us to understand how much we have already changed the world, how we have Empowered customers to move about freely without losing touch with their business and friends by enabling them to reach out by voice and other means to stay in touch, informed and entertained. Our industry has contributed much to changing the world, but if we don’t Embrace the past, acknowledge our mistakes and recognize how we have Empowered our customers, we will not reach our goals.

Envision the Future

Envision the future together. It is no longer business as usual. We need to Envision a world where wireless is one element of our communications resources that must play in concert with the others. We need to accept that the Internet is having a profound effect on our industry and Envision a world where our wireless devices are more than simply communicators and are our window to the world around us. The future can be bright, but there are some who would deny us our destiny because they believe all things wireless should be open and free. As an industry, it is incumbent upon us to show the way, teach the value of wireless and demonstrate how wireless has changed the world and will continue to do so.