A couple of weeks ago I had a lengthy chat with Lee Dryburgh about the status of the industry, especially around innovation. You can now read it online or download the audio for your morning commute.
Here are some of the questions Lee asked. You’ll need to go to the interview to see my responses:
- On that note, you are Vice President of Corporate Strategy at Sprint. Could you describe what you do in that role?
- I would like to ask why you are speaking at the Emerging Communications Conference, this coming March?
- That leads me on to throw in a question very dear to my heart, which is; do you think telecom operators have been far too slow in terms of innovation?
- Generally, how do you feel or what is it that gives you the belief that Sprint is going to be a driver of innovation?
- I believe you are seeing opportunities in the mobile space. Is that correct, in terms of innovation and in particular, do you feel that things have changed in the mobile market the last couple of years, which will help foster innovation?
- I want to ask you about openness. What is meant by it and does it have meaning?
- What inhibitors do you see in mobile, today, that you believe will be pulled down by operators, going forwards?
- Now, you’re seeing this massive surge in Netbooks. What are most people doing with Netbooks? It’s either Google Apps or it’s the likes of Skype. Does that give a “telephone” company concern when you’re seeing more and more “near general purpose computers” hanging off the end of the network? Do you see it as an opportunity?
- I know it’s not your position to be asking this, but do you know if the backhaul from the BTS, from the antennas, how upgrading that is going?
- The final couple of questions here, can you shed any light on any Sprint plans with Android? Being part of the Open Handset Alliance, I was hoping to get some detail on what the plans are with Android.
- Finally, and it’s more of an open-ended type question, I want to know what gets you excited, looking forward? Where is the hope that you see?
