An evolving IT supply chain, business adoption of cloud platforms for IT services, and greater business use of handsets and smartphones are creating new revenue streams for both IT and mobile suppliers serving businesses. By 2015, more than 240 million business customers will be leveraging cloud computing services through mobile devices, driving revenues of $5.2bn, according to ABI Research.

The immediate opportunity lies in leveraging cloud platforms to develop mobile applications, particularly mobile applications that leverage enterprise data. Directly and indirectly, Microsoft and Google are major players both influencing and enabling these developments. Mobile operators have the most to gain through offers of cloud services to the enterprise leveraging their networks, application enablement, and data centers. In the longer term, the expansion of cellular-connected devices beyond smartphones and laptops to MIDs, netbooks and smartbooks will further expand use of cloud services.

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