U of Texas IC2 Institute: Austin's Wireless Future Report

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

Delivered-To: dfarber+ () ux13 sp cs cmu edu
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 14:35:46 -0700
From: Mark Goldstein <markg () researchedge com>
Subject: U of Texas IC2 Institute: Austin's Wireless Future Report
To: dave () farber net, ip () v2 listbox com

For IP if you wish. Don't believe I've seen mention of it here yet and it is
a quite good muni-focused wireless overview and region-specific report out
(and comparison to others).

The University of Texas IC2 Institute has just issued a major report that
identifies Austin as future wireless hub. The press release is below or
online at http://www.ic2.org/main.php?dyn=news_show.php&sid=178&a=4&s=0

The report, Austin's Wireless Future, is quite detailed on technologies and
their use as well as Austin specific markets, applications, wireless
industry, and opportunities. The full report is online (PDF, 127 pages) at
http://www.wirelessfuture.org/AustinsWirelessFuture.pdf FYI.

Best Regards,
Mark Goldstein
International Research Center
Voice & Fax: 602-470-0389
IRC: http://www.researchedge.com/
Helping Build the Tech Oasis - http://www.techoasis.org/

PRESS RELEASE

IC² Report Identifies Austin as Future Wireless Hub
(01-13-2004)

http://www.ic2.org/main.php?dyn=news_show.php&sid=178&a=4&s=0

City Prime Location for Development of Wireless Companies and
Infrastructure, According to UT-Austin Think Tank

AUSTIN, TX - January 13, 2004 - A major study from IC² Institute at The
University of Texas at Austin lays the groundwork for "Austins Wireless
Future." The report uncovers Austin's significant wireless assets as they
relate to business, community, and public policy and identifies key actions
stakeholders can take to ensure the success of wireless ventures in Central
Texas.

"We - the collective city, academia, and business communities - have an
opportunity to establish Austin as a major center for wireless development
and create hundreds of new jobs in the next three+ years," said Alex
Cavalli, deputy director of IC² Institute. "This report from IC² is
essentially the roadmap of how to do just that."

"For over two years Austin leaders have been prospecting for new economic
opportunity and this report shows there is gold in the wireless mine. The
process we developed to engage the community in the completion of the
report, our national wireless conference in March, and a number of other
emergent civic efforts are all critical to the development of this
resource," said Eliza Evans, program manager for research at IC² Institute.
"The relationships developed while conducting this study are an important
outcome and speak to the action research IC² is known for."

The analysis in the report is based on interviews with and a survey of
Austin's wireless sector of approximately 90 companies, supplemented with
discussions during monthly stakeholder meetings, and a review of existing
literature. Key topics include: wireless technology overview, trends and
opportunities in development, Austin's wireless ecology, investment
infrastructure, human and intellectual capital, civic infrastructure,
competition, and recommendations.

"This is not the first time IC² has identified and helped to develop a
technology sector in the Austin area," said Cavalli. "Similar to the
software boom in Austin in the early '90's, the IC² Institute is poised to
assist and promote the wireless sector through IC²'s Austin Technology
Incubator, the Wireless Future Conference in March, as well as through its
partnerships with the Austin Wireless Alliance and the Austin Technology
Council."

A few key findings from the report:
* 83% of the surveyed wireless companies originated in Central Texas.
* While Austin's educated workforce and entrepreneurial spirit make it tops
for starting any technology business, its key assets in the semiconductor,
software, and digital media sectors provide a strong base from which to
develop the wireless industry.
* In the local wireless industry there are approximately 3,400 people
employed in companies with 100 or fewer employees. In 2004, this number will
grow to 4,215, a 25.7% increase. In the next four years, the number of
workers will grow at an average 18.93% annual compound rate to reach 7,978
by the year 2008. We estimate that last year, the total payroll for wireless
employees in Austin MSA was approximately $125 million, and that this
payroll generates $85 million in consumption.
* UT-Austins Wireless Networking and Communications Group is the regions
most visible university-based wireless research endeavor; however, many of
Austin's research assets reside in the private sector. Several of Austin's
larger employers have well established research units, such as SBC
Laboratories and IBM, and much of this research is in wireless. However,
wireless research is not confined to Austin's marquee companies; 30 percent
of the companies responding to the Wireless Future survey reported wireless
research as a key component of their business.
* With over 90 companies involved in wireless technologies, applications,
and services, Austin is already emerging as a wireless hub - this fact is
being institutionalized through this report and other efforts of IC² and the
various stakeholders in the Austin area.

Based on the information gathered, the researchers provided several
recommendations to the various stakeholders (City of Austin, business
community, academic community, wireless entrepreneurs, etc.).
Recommendations include:
* Build a better network of wireless professionals and other stakeholders
* Demonstrate Austin's wireless savvy through test marketing and public
investment in wireless
* Maintain and grow Austin's most important competitive advantage--people
* Capitalize on Austin's recognized strengths in semiconductors, software,
and digital media
* Support entrepreneurs and growth of local business
* Improve visibility

To continue its development and support of Austin's wireless community, IC²
is bringing national and international thought leaders in wireless to Austin
for a national conference, The Wireless Future, in conjunction with SXSW
Interactive on March 12-16, 2004. For information on attending the
conference, visit www.wirelessfuture.org.

The Austin Technology Incubator, another program of IC² Institute and
temporary home to several of Austin's technology start-ups, will be involved
in encouraging the development of Austin's wireless sector through various
programs to be unveiled this Spring.

Austin's Wireless Future study is made possible through the support of
Andrews Kurth LLP, Rocksteady Networks, and The Futures Lab.

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