Abstract :
The Internet was a disruptive force. Innovative entrepreneurs created a new industry which has added significantly to the world´s economies and spearheaded a revolution in information creation and distribution unparalleled in modern history. Similarly, the advent of wireless telecommunications has been a major disruptive force to the traditional wireline industry. By the beginning of the 21st centry, the amount of wireless telephony traffic had exceeded that carried by wireline. Moreover, the number of people in the world who now have access to telecommunications has grown exponentially. In this panel, we explore the implications of the coming together of these two disruptive forces and focus on the role of software relative to this phenomenon.