ACCESS is a global provider of advanced software technologies to the mobile and beyond-PC markets. The company has research and engineering centers throughout the world and a progressive company culture that emphasizes and nurtures innovation and creativity. ACCESS delivers unique solutions that bring value to its customers and partners and which help make life easier, more productive, and more enjoyable. I had the opportunity to interview Albert Chu, vice president, of Marketing & Alliances for ACCESS Systems America in advance of his participation at the upcoming ITEXPO (News - Alert) , which takes place in Los Angeles this September 16–18.

 What has been your company’s biggest achievement in 2008 so far?

 

ACCESS technologies were central to the development of the first successful mobile data service in the world and this pioneering success has grown at a phenomenal pace with over 590 million deployments of our NetFront technologies around the world in more than 1,500 devices including handsets, gaming devices, digital TVs, set top boxes and beyond-PC devices.

 

ACCESS also continues to be a leading innovator in mobile Linux platform development and is a pioneer in convergence solutions for the digital life generation. The ACCESS Linux Platform is a leading choice for phones, mobile Internet devices and more; bringing widgets and Web 2.0 to mobile Linux.

 

What can we expect to see for from your company for the next 12 months?

 

As the world evolves to a more mobile, interconnected, open Internet society, the software and services enabling the trend towards mobility and convergence are also evolving.  Mobile phones, which only a few years ago were used mainly for voice, are becoming smarter, with advanced platforms that enable these phones to be Internet-savvy communications and media devices.

 

ACCESS will continue to be a leading innovator of solutions for the open Internet generation, focusing on converged devices and networks, such as home gateway solutions, next generation network software for mobile devices and software to access the open Internet from all consumer devices.

 

 

The next generation home digital experience is about one essential idea: to deliver more and diverse media-rich content to the consumer by giving consumers access to their digital life when they want it, how they want it and where they want it.

 

Over the past few years, we have seen significant advances in technologies and services available to the digital home. At ACCESS, we believe that the communications market will evolve to next generation networks where all devices will be networked and have access to the open Internet, thus evolving to an open Internet generation that is always mobile, always on.

 

 

Google has successfully developed a business model to monetize the open Internet through advertising, which is its core business. This business model has brought in over $10 billion annually.  The more the Internet is used by individuals and businesses, the more ads they see and the more opportunity for Google to monetize their ads.

 

 

Apple has done what it does best -- creating products with compelling user experiences. 

 

 

We really can’t speculate on this. Both have advantages in their key strength markets. For example, today, RIM has a stronghold on the enterprise market segment with their BlackBerry (News - Alert) Enterprise Server, and history has not been kind to Apple in the enterprise markets. 

 

What do you think the communications market might look like in five years?

 

As communications, broadcast media and broadband entertainment continue to converge, a major shift has begun in the connected home environment. The integration of the television experience with the power of new end user technologies, from broadband to mobile, opens the door to not only an exclusive world of entertainment and information, it brings a next generation idea of full consumer interactivity within diverse mobile experiences.

 

In five years, every consumer electronic device and appliance will be connected to the open Internet and networked.  Communications will not only be person to person, but also device to device -- and permutations in between. 

 

 

As communications and broadcast entertainment and media are converging, a major shift has begun in the connected home environment.  Attendees at my session on "Convergence (News - Alert) of Communications and Entertainment" will learn how the integration of the television experience with the open Internet will bring a new generation of consumer interactivity and personalization.  This presentation will outline the opportunities that present themselves at the intersection of communications and entertainment.

 

What type of attendees do you think should come to your session?

 

As a mobile Internet pioneer, ACCESS has helped to develop and deliver technologies that have brought the Internet to a new generation of mobile devices and consumers.

 

This presentation will discuss the industry trends and innovation in software technologies required to excite and fuel the next billion users of the Open Internet Generation. Attendees for this session would include anyone in the communications, media and entertainment industry who would find it interesting to learn about all of the opportunities available in the coming years.

 

Why should customers choose your company’s solutions? 

 

ACCESS is a global provider of advanced software technologies to the mobile and beyond-PC markets. The company is an innovator and pioneer in software solutions for the open Internet with a track record of market deployment and success. As a Japan-based company, ACCESS can bring innovation that has been proven in the Japan market. With research and engineering centers throughout the world and a progressive company culture that emphasizes and nurtures innovation and creativity, ACCESS delivers unique solutions that bring value to its customers and partners and which help make life easier, more productive, and more enjoyable.