Predictions for 2010: clouds, mergers, social networks and analytics

Yes, it is predictions time. Let me start by saying that no market change happens in a single year. Therefore, what is important is to look at the nuance of a market or a technology change in the context of its evolution. So, it is in this spirit that I will make a few predictions. I've decided to just list my top six predictions (I don't like odd numbers). Next week I will add another five or six predictions.

1. Cloud computing will move out of the fear, uncertainty and doubt phase to the reality phase for many customers. ...
2. Service Management will become mainstream. ...
3. Cloud service providers will begin to drop their prices dramatically as competition intensifies.
4. It is not a stretch to state that the pace of technology acquisitions will accelerate in 2010. I expect that HP, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, Microsoft, Google, and CA will be extremely active. ...
5. Social Networking will become much more mainstream than it was in 2009. Marketers will finally realize that blatant sales pitches on Twitter or Facebook just won't cut it.
6. Information management is at the cusp of a major change. ...

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