IBM and Xamarin: Value for the Mobile Developer Ecosystem
I just love it when we can help developer with their Mobile Development!
What was announced!
Today, Xamarin is announcing a partnership with IBM that expands Xamarin's enterprise mobile developer ecosystem by simplifying the development of native mobile apps for iOS, Android and Windows devices to easily connect to enterprise data and systems through the IBM MobileFirst Platform. More than 750,000 developers use Xamarin to accelerate native app development for multiple platforms; with IBM's backend capabilities now those developers will have enterprise grade scale, security and management at their fingertips.
This collaboration will expand IBM's reach to C# and .NET developer communities. This will help close the skills gap for software application developers by giving them the tools to quickly develop mobile apps. With this collaboration, 6 million+ C# and .NET developers will now have the tools at their fingertips to create both engaging user experiences and deliver secure mobile apps with speed and at enterprise scale.
The Facts:
According to Gartner, 70% of the mobile workforce will have a smartphone by 2016 and 90% of enterprises will have two or more device platforms to support. That's why it is so important for a mobile app solution to be able to scale!
Consider the challenge for today's developer; they have to meet the ever-increasing demand for secure, connected and sophisticated mobile apps. The relationship with Xamarin expands IBM's support for first class native development that allows millions of developers to focus more on innovation and driving business value through mobile!
This is GREAT for Developers!
Users in every category have an ever-expanding need to consume and contribute data via mobile devices. Enterprises must build and manage high-performance apps with a device-optimized user experience that securely integrates into the enterprise environment. The companies have created an enterprise mobile solution for C# developers that combines Xamarin’s fully native mobile development platform for iOS, Android and Windows Phone with the IBM Worklight platform for highly secure cloud-based data services.
The IBM MobileFirst Platform SDK and IBM MobileFirst Platform studio add-ons are available immediately at http://xamarin.com/ibm for the thousands of partners and millions of developers in the combined ecosystems of Xamarin and IBM.
Here's what Nat Friedman, CEO and co-founder of Xamarin, had to say:
"Together, Xamarin and IBM are creating an end-to-end foundation for developers to more effectively mobilize mission-critical enterprise data in their apps. The combined Xamarin and IBM solution gives millions of app developers a powerful enterprise mobile opportunity they have never had before."
I couldn't agree more! Xamarin and IBM developers will now have the tools to create engaging user experiences and deliver secure mobile apps with speed at enterprise scale!
To find out more about Xamarin, and to download the IBM MobileFirst Platform SDK and IBM MobileFirst Platform studio add-ons, go to http://xamarin.com/ibm
Wumdrop's MOBILE solution delivers a victory at the Entrepreneur SmartCamp Cape Town!
Congratulations to Wumdrop for winning the SmartCamp Cape Town competition!
This year's event in Cape Town had 5 outstanding startups competing for the win. Each startup had very different and unique solutions that included scalable transactional monitoring, ecommerce store builder, mobile identity, and even a micro-radar so a bicyclist can track automobiles for increased safety. I'd say the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Cape Town is producing some very creative startup solutions!
Wumdrop's mobile solution allows you to request shipping service at the click of a button. No more waiting in lines at the post office or shipping kiosk! What's so impressive about their solution is that it furthers the notion of mobile solutions making daily tasks easier and faster to complete. This is a great resource for business and personal use!
And a big shout out to Tech4Africa! SmartCamp Cape Town ran in partnership with Tech4Africa. Every time they are involved in a SmartCamp event, it is huge success for everyone! So THANK YOU to Tech4Africa!
For Developers - The Wimbledon Experience!
We are calling all Developers to get under the covers at Wimbledon 2014 and help take the experience to the next level.
Background:
The Wimbledon website, with 19.7 million unique users last year, is being enhanced with more mobile functions where users are able to create a personalized feeds with news from their choice of players, countries and categories of match, from data updated up to 140,000 times a day.
A new addition this year is "Hill vs World" which will be polling the results questions asked of fans sitting on Henman Hill via the giant screen, and pitting them against those of the television and internet audience responding via social media.
An IBM Softlayer based analytics console known as Wimbledon Social Command Centre will allow the social media team to view engagement from users in real time and tailor content according to reaction. This could take the form of everything from a conversation about strawberries in the rain to which photo of Andy Murray is causing the most stir!!!
48 tennis analysts are stationed around the site to manually capture data from the courts and feed it into the IBM cloud, which then crunches it into the statistics and graphics for the TV coverage and the second screen Slamtracker service
IBM has uploaded years of analytics gathered from previous championships to its private cloud. The cloud server is scalable and will be ramped up during the fortnight to cope with demand. IBM's Watson will be flexing its elastic data muscles to ensure that data supply and demand are always met, constantly analyzing information to ensure that pertinent data is at the front of the cloud's 'mind'
Now it is your turn!
And the innovation doesn't stop there! – What would you do to make the Wimbledon experience even better?
Now it’s your chance to create a prototype app which uses, creates, consumes, or analyses data in and around The Championships to enhance the fans’ experience on-site. Your code will create, consume, or analyze data in and around The Championships (either previously generated or real-time) to enhance the fans’ experience on-site.
You can also contribute your own data if you like. Don’t have any? That’s okay. There's some on the website to download
We will have prizes for the Best mobile app and Best Data Insights.
To take part, upload your app to BlueMix and send us a 2-4 minute video demonstrating your solution's use of IBM technology and include a 500 word max abstract.
We are starting this to run from October 24 - November 6.
The best apps will be invited to pitch in front of a live audience at IBM BusinessConnect from which we will pick our category winners, and the overall winner
- Prizes - Two show court tickets for The Wimbledon Championship 2015 and the opportunity to work with IBM Interactive Experience team in the UK, to explore how your solution might be incorporated into the official Wimbledon mobile app for the 2015 Championships.
http://www.ibm.com/uk/wimbledon_innovation_challenge/
CNBC Top 50 Disruptors - Of the Top 20, 25% are Social
I love disruptors. I love innovation and creative thinking.
So the CNBC Top 50 Disruptors was interesting. (read the full story here
I found it interested that ALL these companies are either based on Cloud, Social, Mobile, or Analytics. All are based CAMS!
And of the Top 20, 25% are Social Business oriented.
Whose your favorite? And what's your biggest AHA on the list?
InXero: helping micro-businesses engage customers through social and mobile!
I am in Poughkeepsie today chatting with clients and our great IBMers here! The big focus of course is on CAMS -- Cloud, Analytics, Mobile and Social!
This example highlights the value of CAMS!
75% of world trade happens through resellers says Anand Raj, CEO, InXero. Many of these are small businesses who are not necessarily good marketers. InXero gives them the tools they need to get the right content and meet the customer where they are! For instance, developing a showcase for businesses on LinkedIn can be much more impactful than the printed brochures of old.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVvawL5PLn4]
See the InXero platform in action!
The Internet of Things Featured at TieCon this week in San Fran!
Happy Monday and welcome to our Coffee Break!
Today we are going to explore the Internet of Things which promises to far surpass the disruption we’ve already seen with the smartphone. You can expect to see vast amounts of data generated opening up whole new industries, like that around the Connected Car:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJQxkcsiiyw&w=560&h=315]
I’m looking forward to explore these theme further this week during my TiEcon keynote!
Social in the Pharmacy Industry - changing the world with Alden Zecha, Sproxil
A must watch!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3_-lTFrIXk&feature=youtu.be]
Who will win the Mobile App Throwdown at IBM Impact? You decide!
Voting for our Mobile App Throwdown finalists has started, and I need your help in determining who wins!
I’ve listed them all below, together with their video submissions. All you'll need to do is watch the finalists' videos and then vote for your favorite finalists. I've included a handy-dandy link at the bottom of each video for you to vote!
We will announce the winner during the IBM Impact keynote on Wednesday, April 30th. Here's the finalists:
Arxan provides advanced software security technology to the market place and delivers superior customer satisfaction.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prw-q2bTk4g?rel=0]
ClickSoftware delivers a complete end-to-end mobile workforce solution that meets the vital needs of the field service industry.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKa8Wf70RJk?rel=0]
Exigen Insurance Solutions provides core system software to insurers of every size to help them achieve outcomes that matter - revenue growth, cost efficiency, and market and channel expansion.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOw_vkxciqE?rel=0]
PointSource has evolved from a dynamic IT firm specializing business process management to a pioneer in transforming businesses with mobile.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WOlndEyWSE?rel=0]
Stay tuned: the winner of the IBM Impact Mobile App Throwdown will be announced on April 30!
Close Encounters of the Mobile Kind! What's coolest mobile app?
Thank you being part of India's Largest Technology Contest for Students. The last date for project submission for The Great Mind Challenge - Mobility Contest is 31st March 2014. What's the coolest mobile app you have made ? Hurry submit your projects now. Submission details on www.facebook.com/thegreatmindchallenge