Last Thursday’s Mobile in May thought exchange yielded some dynamic discussion and interesting insights. Topics included M&A Trends, The Connected Experience, Mobile Advertising and Measurement, and The Future of Mobile Transactions. Here are some of the key takeaways:

 M&A Trends in Mobile

• The mobile ecosystem is changing rapidly and will affect all enterprises.
• Most early M&A deals have been in advertising, marketing and metrics, plus some content.
• Key mobile drivers include rapidly increasing smartphone adoption…dropping pricepoints … and increasing network speeds and ubiquitous connectivity.

 The Connected Experience

• In 2010, ubiquitous connectivity became a reality. 2011 is all about the connected user experience.
• Mobility is enabled by both wireless and wired ecosystems; both are necessary components for mobility.
• Mobile will drive the biggest change in our lifetime, as well as trillions of dollars of economic activity across all devices, content and networks.

 Mobile Advertising & Measurement

• Mobile devices are now shopping companions, as consumers compare prices on the go.
• Content providers and media companies are relying more on mobile applications than the mobile Web.
• Tablet prices will drop considerably, with sales expected to reach 60 million in the US alone.
• Apple will win on margin, Android on volume.
• Like digital advertising, mobile advertising requires a new mindset, a new understanding and new partnerships before it becomes mainstream.

 Mobile Transactions

• The majority of smartphones sold today have embedded NFC chips that will enable mobile transactions. NFC standards and infrastructure are now in place.
• Still to be determined: who will pay for, and who will make money from mobile payments and transactions? Merchants? Card issuers? Banks? Consumers?
• Security and privacy – both in reality and perception — are critical components for mobile transactions to gain acceptance. 

 We’ll be posting video excerpts from Mobile in May in a few days. In the meantime, we’d love to hear your thoughts on what lies ahead for mobile.