I am sure many of you are already facing prediction fatigue, but I have to take my hat off to Jonny Bentwood, the very model of a modern AR/influencer man, for
a. rounding up a bunch of analyst firm predictions for next year.
b. helpfully editing three sets of redmonk predictions from Coté, Stephen, and yours truly into a single top 20. Here it is:
- Cloud API proliferation will become a serious problem
- Data as revenue – we’re going to see datasets increasingly recognized as a serious, balance sheet-worthy asset
- Developer target fragmentation will accelerate
- It’s all about the analytics – metrics can be immensely important in maximizing returns, and to an extent, profits. In 2010 business intelligence will become less about the power user, and more about democratised access to the ad hoc query. In memory databases will underpin the trend.
- Marketplaces will be table stakes
- New languages to watch: Clojure and Go
- NoSQL will bid for mainstream acceptance
- Location, location, location: the new frontier in app dev is location-aware applications and services
- Augmented Reality will begin to make a mark in the mobile space.
- Greener business processes through deeper instrumentation, more effective automation and orchestration
- Google will significantly ramp up enterprise efforts
- Hybrid Cloud and On Premise models for the enterprise – the Big Cloud Backlash will be in full effect in 2010, after all the hype in 2009.
- SOA without the SOA
- A big upswing in enterprise demerger activity
- New devices: Smart phones, tablets, toys, TVs, and other devices are now on the Internet. Software goes here.
- Users no longer tolerate slow and dumb computers.
- Technology every where and at all times changes how people go about their daily work and lives.
- New technology actually seems to work; but it’s not as open as we’re used to.
- Identity management standards
- The consumerization of IT, or whatever you like: the core difference with these new platforms is that end-users expect more out of their “computers” and the related software.
(Cross-posted @ James Governor’s Monkchips)

In response to your “data as revenue” comment, data may well become an intangible asset on the balance sheet, but will only produce revenue on the income statement if it drives sales directly, or indirectly.