IT and Society: Top 10 IT trends in 2011

Here are Top 10 IT, Internet and telecommunications trends expected in 2011.

1. Tablet PCs displace competitors.

The year 2010 saw the launch of a new market, namely the market of tablet PCs. These devises turned out to be better Internet data consumers than smartphones or computers.

2. Nokia loses its leading position.

This Finnish company, which at the dawn of mobile era used to dominate in the world market of mobile phones, is gradually losing its position.

Though Nokia remains in the list of leaders, penetration of Android smart phones, as well as success of Apple iPhones leave little chance to Finns to preserve their former positions in the upcoming year.

3. Hard times for SEO market.

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is promotion of websites, or the process of improving visibility of a website or a webpage in search engines via search results. This business, which used to be fairly profitable, stopped being such on the Runet.

Major companies may re-orient themselves towards promotion of products, not websites, and not just in search engines but on the Runet as a whole. Little by little SEO will become an advertising and marketing business with a stress on work on the Web.

4. MeeGo platform may surprise.

MeeGo is a Linux-based open source mobile operating system targeted at netbooks (on this market it is going to face competition on a part of Microsoft Windows). Nokia doesn’t turn down plans to design MeeGo for smart phones as well, while MeeGo-netbooks have already appeared on the market.

5. Android’s triumph.

2011 will see growing popularity of smartphones based on Android platform. It was in 2010 that Android-based smartphones won markets in the USA and Asia becoming a favorite among users. As to world sales, in the third quarter of 2010 Android became the second popular platform for smartphones, leaving behind Apple, and being second just to Symbian, what is just a matter of time. However in 2011 Android will most probably turn out the best worldwide.

7. “Cloud Computing” gains in popularity.

In 2011 the term “Cloud Computing” will stop being a marketing “lure” and will stay for really existing and quite reliable technologies providing companies with IT resources from remote data-centers.

8. Chrome OS’s release.

In 2011 Google will release another operational system - Chrome OS. This is, strictly speaking, not an operational system in traditional sense. Chrome OS is built around the same named browser and is aimed merely to offer fast and reliable access to online services to PC users. It will only require Net surfing skills. Chrome OS thus is likely to win a large number of supporters – especially among those who prefer Google Docs to Microsoft Office.

9. “Clearing” of frequency ranges for LTE.

Russia will mount “clearing” of frequency ranges for LTE (Long Term Evolution) mobile network building. The government took a decision to offer 2,3-2,4 GHz radio frequencies to the Ministry of Defense for broadband 4G mobile networks, thus experts wait for a new company “Osnova Telecom” to come on to the market. Its activities as well as a struggle between members of the “Big Three” for 790-862 MHz and 2,5-2,7 GHz frequency ranges and “clearing” of these ranges will become the main trend on the mobile communications market.

10. NFC’s active penetration.

Another technological novelty which is expected to be actively implemented in 2011 is NFC (Near Field Communication). In 2011 this technology will provide already launched integration of bank and perhaps other payment systems with mobile communications systems. The NFC device behaves like an existing contactless card (mobile phone thus becomes a functional counterpart of smartcard, while a device - a payment terminal).