Revolutionary ideas 2: Budde, King, Malone

Telecommunications will change the way we live, with new behaviours and the merging of industries. And telcos, if they don't change, could go the way of the dinosaurs.

This week on Twisted Wire we hear from industry analyst Paul Budde and economist Stephen King, plus some emailed insights from iiNet's CEO Michael Malone.

There's a common element to their views on the future. Paul Budde says we will see the rise of cloud computing applications that will enable industry sectors to merge. Michael Malone also sees this happening and challenging the future of the telecommunications industry itself. Will we be buying our broadband from our bank or electricity company?

Stephen King, dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics at Monash University, believes there will be a merging of transport and telecommunications. For example, with tags in our vehicles, we could be charged for using the fast lane on a motorway, or banned from using shortcuts at peak times.

King also predicts a safe future for cafe owners. As more of us work from home we'll be looking for neutral space to meet our professional peers. We might be using technology more and more, but there will always be a need for face-to-face interaction — and a decent coffee.

Running time: 28 minutes, 36 seconds