The 'Great Game' is the battle between the industrial giants of the digital economy, including the telcos, Facebook, Apple, Google and Skype, and is summarised in the chart above, extracted from our report on 'Dealing with the Disruptors'. (More)

The chart outlines the battles by player and by strategic market, and shows where the businesses make their primary profits (Core Businesses) and where they operate 'Synergic Businesses' which support them.

Facebook's core business is advertising, supported by synergic businesses in online content and payments, and we believe it will move into further into communications in an attempt to bolster its value. (See also our research articles on Facebook: moving into telco space?, Facebook: worth $30Bn max, and Facing up to Facebook.)

Further detail on the chart can be found here and in the report, and there is an explanatory presentation by Chris Barraclough, Chief Strategist, Telco 2.0, at the New Digital Economics Online Event next Tuesday 14th February (apply here for this free, invitation only event).

Cloud 2.0: what is it, why it matters,
and what's next

What we think 'Cloud' means, why it's important to telcos and Telco 2.0 in particular, a good example of telco cloud marketing from AT&T, and what we're going to be researching on it over the next few months. (More)

M-Commerce 2.0: Operator Billing - 'it's the merchants, stupid'

In this guest post, Telco 2.0 partners SLA Mobile argue that operators must focus on merchants' needs to make Direct Operator Billing (DOB) work, and unlock and monetise new assets through M-Commerce. (More)

New Digital Economics Online:
14 February - Virtual Event
(Free for service providers)

Produced in collaboration with Ericsson, New Digital Economics Online is a global virtual event focused on some of the latest business model innovation in: Customer Experience, M-Commerce, Cloud, Digital Entertainment, Personal Data. It comprises video presentations based on new analysis from the Telco 2.0 Initiative and Ericsson.

NB: Participation is free, but reserved only for telcos, CSPs and media owners.
The event includes access to the Telco 2.0 Video Bank and live Q&A and chat with the speakers and other participants.

More info here

The event will cover:

• Digital Economy 2.0 - Shifting Profit Pools and Strategic Growth Opportunities
• Digital Commerce 2.0 - Harnessing personal data to revolutionize Advertising, Payments and Retail Experiences
• Digital Entertainment 2.0 - New Business Models in a multi-screen, 3D/HD, mobile world
• Digital Things 2.0 - New sources of value in M2M and the 'internet of things'

There's more on the agenda here. Early Bird' rates are still available - please email us at contact@stlpartners.com or call +44 (0) 20 7247 5003.

Mobile World Congress 2012: seven good reasons to go

The Telco 2.0 team will be at the 2012 GSMA Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona in force. Here is our brief preview including the seven good reasons why we'll be there. (More)

Vodafone CIO: 2012 a big year for customer data, analytics, and M-Commerce

Albert Hitchcock, Vodafone's Group CIO, sees significant changes in the mobile money and advertising industries in 2012, driven by improved use of customer data and analytics. He describes Vodafone's approach and early learning in this video interview. (More)

'Under-the-Floor' Players: threat or opportunity?

The telecoms industry often puts so-called OTT (over-the-top) players like Google and Facebook at the forefront of its concerns, as they pose new competition for services and applications. But what about encroachment of companies "underneath" the telcos, displacing them from their core asset, the network? Telco 2.0 examines the strategic threats and opportunities from wholesale providers, outsourcers and government-run broadband networks. (More)

Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Skype - dealing with the disruptors

Our new 284 page strategy report, launched and previewed at our EMEA event in London, has attracted massive interest. It's our most important report yet, dealing with the players that some leading telcos are now calling their 'real competitors'. It includes a concise executive summary, in-depth analysis of the player's business models, and strategies for dealing with each. Here is an updated extract of the analysis and further details of the report. (More)

Your Text is on Fire: OTT's to burn 40% SMS revenue by 2015

In four years' time, Telco SMS revenue will decline on average by around 40% across Europe and the Middle East according to the senior execs at this month's Telco 2.0 brainstorm in London. The main cause is competitive pressure from 'OTT' alternatives (Facebook, Skype, Google, BBM, etc). Mobile voice isn't that far behind, with a 20% decline foreseen. What can be done and what is the role of RCS-e? (More)

The Roadmap to New Telco 2.0 Business Models

This Strategy Report plots the transformational path that telcos need to follow to achieve the $375Bn p.a. 'Telco 2.0' opportunities. It describes the six growth opportunity areas for the Telecoms industry, identifies new categories of operators, benchmarks the primary strategies needed by each to evolve and thrive in the new industry environment, and highlights leading examples of telco business model innovation. It has 284 pages, including a 13 page Executive Summary and a detailed index. (More)

Strategy 2.0: The Six Key Telco 2.0 Opportunities

A summary of the six Telco 2.0 opportunities to transform telco's business models for success in an IP-based, post PSTN world: Core Services, Vertical Solutions, Infrastructure Services, Embedded Communications, 3rd Party Enablers, and Own Brand OTT Services. It includes an extract from the Roadmap to New Telco 2.0 Business Models, updates on latest developments, and feedback from over 500 senior TMT industry execs. (more)

Public Wifi: Destroying LTE/Mobile Value?

By building or acquiring Public WiFi networks for tens of $Ms, highly innovative fixed players in the UK are stealthily removing $Bns of value from 3G and 4G mobile spectrum as smartphone and other data devices become increasingly carrier agnostic. What are the lessons globally? (More)

Mobile CDNs and video distribution

Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) are becoming familiar in the fixed broadband world as a means to improve the experience and costs of delivering bulky data like online video to end-users. Is there now a compelling need for their mobile equivalents, and if so, should operators partner with existing players or build / buy their own? (more)

Cloud 2.0: don't blow it, telcos

Enterprise cloud computing services need great connectivity to work, but there are opportunities for telcos to participate beyond the connectivity. What are the opportunities, how are telcos approaching them, and what are the key strategies? (More)

Cloud 2.0: Telcos to grow Revenues 900% by 2014

Telcos should grow Cloud Services revenues nine-fold and triple their overall market share in the next three years according to delegates at the May 2011 EMEA Executive Brainstorm. But which are the best opportunities and strategies? (more)

M-Commerce 2.0: Report and analysis of the EMEA event in November 2011

A summary of the findings of the M-Commerce 2.0 Executive Brainstorm, 10th November , held in the Guoman Hotel, London. Part of an international research and events programme, run with the support of the World Economic Forum, the Brainstorm explored the principles of personal data in the context of 'M-Commerce 2.0' - creating mechanisms that put the user in control of their data, helping the individual to generate value from that data, reducing friction and transaction costs in day-to-day 'B2B2C' commercial processes. (More)

Customer Data 2.0: Telcos Must Vie for a slice of the $Multi-Billion 'PIE'

Facebook, Google and others are pioneering the creation of the Personal Information Economy (PIE) based on consumer/user data. This Telco 2.0 analysis outlines emerging participants' roles, and why, where and how telcos could and should play. (more)

M2M 2.0: the Money's in 'Enablers'

Our latest report on M2M 2.0 covers: M2M market growth, structure and dynamics; business models; the best role(s) for telcos; and leading thinking from Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, Telenor, KPN and Swisscom. It describes how 'Service Enablers' are key to the telco opportunity in M2M in addition to connectivity. (more)

M2M 2.0: New Approaches Needed

The M2M market structure is evolving rapidly and new roles and requirements are emerging that are unaligned with much current telco practice. What must telcos do to avoid missing out and potentially inhibiting the market overall? (more)

Digital Entertainment 2.0: Telcos risk missing the UltraViolet online video opportunity

2011 heralded the introduction of the UltraViolet digital locker platform by DECE, a consortium led by 6 of the 7 top Hollywood studios and backed by 50 cross-industry heavyweights, to support the transition of film and TV to online distribution. What opportunities will telcos miss if they fail to engage? (more)

Connected TV: Forecast and Winners

Our in-depth look at one of Europe's most competitive digital TV markets which reflects many global trends, such as competition between different types of content distributor (loveFilm, YouTube, Virgin Media, BBC, BSkyB, BT, etc.), channel proliferation, new devices used for viewing, and the increasing prevalence of connected TVs. What are the key trends and who will be the winners and losers? (More)

Facebook IPO round-up, Telenor's Indian nightmare, and BT & HTC suffer

• Facebook: Facebook IPO roundup
  
• India: Telenor's entire Indian spectrum holding disappears!
  
• Voice 2.0: BT Retail call volumes down 1.5bn minutes
  
• Technology Disruptions: HTC Q1 shocker, wave of cheap 'droids
  
• Google: FRAND? That'll be 2.25% of iPhone sales thanks

More on these stories and other news here.