Editor’s Note: The ecosystem of big data and analytics, and its intersection with mobile networks and cloud computing has increasing relevance to wireless in areas that include service assurance, customer experience management, mobile marketing, location-based services and more. Here is a look at the week’s news in this space.
–The latest report from IDC Government Insights sees a domino effect happening in government IT with the emergence of small cell networks and big data.
–Mobile continues to grow as a medium for viewing content, and ratings giant Nielsen continues to shift its measurement offerings to account for changes in how people encounter advertising. The company reported that the addition of mobile video measurement to its Nielsen Online Campaign Ratings is seeing significant adoption among advertisers, media companies, and ad networks and platforms. The solution enables advertisers to measure mobile on their sites so that they have a full audience view across computers, tablets and smartphones. The data includes demographic information as well as counts on whether consumers viewed on ad only on a PC, only on a mobile device, or both, plus the mobile operating system platform used. Nielsen has also added mobile measurement to its Cross-Platform Campaign Ratings solution for TV and digital ads.
“Our goal is to measure audiences wherever and however they might access content,” said Megan Clarken, EVP of global product leadership for Nielsen. “The launch of mobile in Nielsen Online Campaign Ratings paves the way for the debut of Digital Program Ratings and the inclusion of mobile measurement in TV ratings later this year.”
—Altierre, which provides ultra-low power wireless technology for “Internet of Things” applications in retail, raised $21 million in venture financing to expand its business at the intersection of big data and IoT. Altierre’s current investors ATA Ventures, DuPont Capital Management, Labrador Ventures and Kinetic Ventures participated, and the round was co-led by new investor Stratim Capital and D.E. Shaw & Co.s
Altierre’s platform allows devices to exchange data bi-directionally, to enable features such as dynamic pricing, monitoring temperature, lighting and customer traffic, and shelf sensors that indicate when items are out of stock. The company has digital signs operating in more than 1,000 U.S. cities and a few in France.
—SAP has moved to make itself more accessible to small businesses with the launch of its SMB Solutions Group, which is a new division that will focus solely on the technology needs of businesses with up to 500 employees. The segment will be headed by Dean Mansfield and will focus on developing business applications around SAP’s HANA big data platform, to be delivered via cloud.
“SMBs are playing an increasingly important role in the global economy and at the same time are increasingly interested in leveraging advanced technology,” said Ray Boggs, VP of SMB Research at IDC. “We’re predicting record worldwide SMD IT spending that will top $680 billion by 2018, with exceptional gains in key regions and across key technologies as SMBs are being transformed through the use of mobile devices and cloud computing. The opportunity for firms to sharpen their products, refine distribution strategy and appeal to new customers has never been greater.”
