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Barry Lee MyersJune 28, 2011

Mobile Weather: Opportunity and Challenge

Mobile Technology

Weather Enterprise Opportunity• Provide the best public service• Control government costs• Understand the space• Leverage the weather industry as core partner• Grow the national economy

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What is a Mobile Device?• A handheld portable intelligent device that connects to

information sources wirelessly.• May include interactive capability for sound, images, text

and video, and often including actual or virtual keyboard. • Uses include voice calls, information, entertainment, and

location-based services for consumer and business markets.

• Designed to operate over a wide geographic area, typically via public cells or Wi-Fi.

• The fastest growing way to access information.

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Mobile Device Examples• Mobile handsets/ Smart phones.

• Tablets.

• Netbooks.

• Mobile entertainment devices.

• Lap tops

Motorola

Sony

Google RIMApple

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Growth in Mobile Devices• Mobile device penetration in the US = 91%.• Mobile device penetration worldwide = 76%.• Shipment of new devices running at rate of 1.7 billion units per year.

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2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 20100

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2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010

US Mobile Subscriptions Worldwide Mobile Subscriptions

Mill

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Device Manufacturers and Operating Systems

• Mobile marketplace is characterized by extensive diversity and proprietary standards.

• 10 major manufacturers but about 230 device makers worldwide.

• 8 major operating systems each with unique capabilities and requirements.

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Challenges: Development and Deployment

• Successful applications need adaptation for multiple devices and operating systems.

• Creation of server infrastructure to serve increased real-time, worldwide demand.

• Partnerships with global providers of connectivity with lightning speed and SLA responsiveness.

• Maintenance of extra capacity to handle peak national or regional loads.

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Challenges: Obsolescence• New models – and even complete new device categories

such as tablets – introduced at rapid pace.• Installed base at any time a mix of older and newer

devices.– Handsets designed for four-year service life.– Many consumers upgrade much more frequently.– Average device life 18 to 22 months

• 7,050 device models currently in use.

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Challenges: Operation• Porting of application to new devices.• Updating user experience to remain competitive with

other applications and device innovation.• On-going marketing via multiple “app stores” so

consumers migrate application to their new devices.

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Challenges: Patents• Many patents exist in the United States and

internationally relating to location-based services.• Some patents relate to GPS locational functionality. • Some relate to any association of a location with an

informational element. • Some are specific to weather information.

Challenges: Resources• High cost to enter, high cost to maintain.• Mobile is a complex area forged through years of

development and extensive international business ties• App development, product development, mobile web

development and extensive cross platform support has high cost and recurring investment.

• Partnership development with scores or major international companies and hundreds of smaller companies is needed, and already accomplished by American Weather Industry.

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Partnership Value• Companies in the American Weather Industry (AWI)

create, operate, and support viable offerings on a national/international scale.

• AWI companies in the weather/media nexus provide public audience-facing delivery.

• Service level infrastructure exists in private sector driven by AWI.

• International aspect is a boon to the national economy.• Perfect area for cooperation between American Weather

Industry and NOAA’s National Weather Service.

Possible Nature of Cooperation• Support for American Weather Industry will benefit the

public warning function• Consideration of needs of American Weather Industry

when developing data and other standards, accessibility, and cost to access.

• Leverage American Weather Industry capability to communicate with NWS core warning constituencies like EMAs, FAA, water managers.

• Such collaboration will support the national economy by enhanced timely weather information in the U.S. and enhanced American centric world trade.

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Destiny Fulfilled

This is the opportunity we have spend decades working towards:

The National Weather Service and the American Weather Industry working so well together that America truly becomes the weather capital of the world.

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