Web 2.0 could very well be a marketing thing. As such, some of the Web 2.0 services are getting better and easier to use for the masses. Or another thing might be that the masses have learned to use web based tools much better than before the web 1.0 bubble. It can also be a path out of the bubble, into new business and application fields. Web 2.0 attracts money - at least at the west coast US and Silicon Valley. Connecting people is one thing, connecting millions of people into social networks is another thing. The connectivity thing is expanding. The web is moving towards the masses and that's what it was intended for initially, maybe? Cross-cultural and Cross-national social collaboration is an important movement. This platform is an example of that.

There’s a lot of enthusiasm around Web 2.0, interactivity, social media, podcasts, videocasting, webcasting and interactive mobile blogging, mobbloging. All these promises were made possible in the 90’s and the enthusiasm was even larger and broader. Widespread availability of broadband connections has made some of the Web 2.0 applications more users friendly.

Stuff moves now faster over the web, multimedia is now a reality and Skype is probably the ultimate interactivity tool from Europe. But we had IRC and messengers before Skype. New brands are emerging. We are embracing the web, googling and interacting. In the 80’s and 90’s the attitude was more like desktop publishing. Microsoft was the king and winner of that era. Now Google has taken the lead.

What happens in Europe? We had a lead in mobile phones development. Then Europeans created the 3G bubble and we got lost in the translation or transformation. Now Japan and Korea are providing the next generation mobile phone service. They have made it to the real thing with the help of high-speed mobile networks and added value services from the leading services providers. What are we doing? Still using the phones to call friends and business associates and sending text messages. We buy camera and smart phones but haven't really got the idea what we should use them for.

We have some catching up to do in this field as well. In Asia digital television goes mobile. The phone is also becoming an entertainment platform. It will be used for micropayments and to show what your MacDonald is made out of. RFID and near field communication applications will transform the phone into a multitasking tool that is not only connecting people but also things, tools, products and gadgets. And the phone is used by the billions. Web 2.0 is still in the millions and a few hundred millions. We shouldn't forget the promises of mass customization and miniaturization of mobile services could mean for those multiple billion users on a global scale. It could be a tremendous business for us. If we have the guts and will power to continue with some essential development work.

Is anybody worried about Europe being left behind?