High-technology industries, ranging from computers to wireless communications and consumer electronics, are currently being transformed by a process known as "digital convergence," that is, the trend toward growing interoperability among various products and technologies, and their enhanced ability to exchange information with each other. This convergence has been triggered by the rise of networking and connectivity through the Internet and wireless networks, and through continued technological progress, which has brought computer-like capabilities to a dazzling array of devices from mobile phones, to videogame consoles, to personal digital assistants, to portable content devices. The most important consequence of digital convergence is that product value in high-technology industries is shifting away from integrated and stand-alone performance toward the ability to support a variety of digital content such as software applications, music, movies, games, and the ability to share that content with many other devices.
003: A General Perspective on Multi-Sided Software Platforms and the Japanese Computer and Consumer Electronics Industries (22/06/05)
An increasing number of high-technology industries in the modern economy are based on computer-like systems: computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), video game consoles, digital televisions sets, smart mobile phones, digital content carriers such as i-mode and iPod and many other consumer electronics products. Every component of computer systems plays a critical role in these businesses. The characteristics of the software platform, however, can be the key to the viability of a computer system, facilitating the creation of software applications and increasing the value to consumers of the integrated system. Moreover, the degree to which software platforms are integrated with other components affects many aspects of the organization and evolution of computer systems.
002: Perspectives on the Japanese Software Industry: Fragmentation, Modularity and Upcoming Challenges (01/12/05)
Given the degree of high-technology penetration in the Japanese economy and the international competitiveness of the hardware sector of its consumer electronics industries, the weakness of the Japanese packaged software industry looks puzzling. The software industry in Japan has always been fragmented among incompatible platforms provided by large systems integrators (Hitachi, Fujitsu, NEC) and dominated by customized software; therefore it has never been competitive in the global market.
001: Japan's High-Technology Computer-Based Industries: Software Platforms Anyone? (10/19/04)
An increasing number of high-technology industries in the modern economy are based on computer-like systems: computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), video game consoles, televisions, smart mobile phones, digital content devices and many other consumer electronics products. And one essential characteristic of virtually all industries based on computer-like systems today is that they revolve around "multi-sided platforms."
