Metro Atlanta Chamber: Making Atlanta Thrive

The Metro Atlanta Chamber exists for one reason: to help Atlanta thrive. The Chamber is at the core of Atlanta’s economic development and is a unique forum for companies to make business contacts in Atlanta. Today, Metro Atlanta is home to 14 Fortune 500 companies. These companies have contributed to the growth of Atlanta and continue to thrive alongside other MAC members. ZTE is a member of the MAC, and we interviewed Larry Williams, vice president of Technology Industry Development at MAC. He talked about Atlanta’s key strengths in mobile technology, the recipe for Atlanta’s unique success, and the future of the mobile industry.

Q: Why is Atlanta a global hub for mobility?

A: Atlanta is really at the center of the global convergence of all technology and almost all technology has to be delivered over a mobile platform. If you think about that convergence, Atlanta is a place where mobile content meets the necessary distribution channels. You also have enablers, such as app developers, and you have some of the biggest names in online security here. Along with these parties, you also have some of the largest global brands, such as Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, and Home Depot. These are the most forward-thinking brands in terms of using mobility to engage customers. There is no other place right now with this kind of mobile ecosystem that drives not only innovation and adoption but also revenue.

Q: What are Atlanta’s key strengths in mobile technology?

A: We are at the epicenter, where mobile technology ecosystems come together. As we like to say, “Atlanta is where mobility meets the real world.” When you think about what it takes to make mobile technology work—everything from infrastructure to hardware and development—Atlanta has a huge ecosystem. We have players such as The Weather Channel and Turner Broadcasting that deliver content. Then we have companies such as AirWatch that are enablers of mobile technology, providing critical security needed for mobile transactions. Atlanta also has people that develop apps, and we have the world’s largest brands, such as Coca-Cola, that drive business with mobility. We also have a population that is very receptive to mobile technology. There is widespread mobile usage here: People here really get mobility. That means we are able to roll out new technologies faster. Of course, we also have companies such as ZTE that are a gateway to the world of mobile technology. ZTE can help realize potential growth and development in an industry that Atlanta stands at the forefront of.

Q: What is the recipe for Atlanta’s unique success in this growing field?

A: It is a combination of great research, great institutions, and an entrepreneurial culture. We have people who are able to figure out how mobile technology developments apply to consumers and businesses and who can turn these developments into marketable products. We also have a culture of engagement, where companies large and small are willing to work together to build great ideas. Companies such as AT&T, Coca-Cola, Newell Rubbermaid, UPS, Turner Broadcasting, and McKesson are willing to sit around a table and pool their might to promote Atlanta’s mobility industry and the betterment of the community. That’s a great recipe for success.

Q: How have Atlanta’s business leaders embraced the growth of Atlanta’s mobile technology ecosystem?

A: AirWatch can build the world’s largest and fastest-growing mobile device management company in Atlanta because, in large part, Atlanta has decades of experience in network and internet security. Atlanta has through-companies such as ISS (which became IBM Internet Security Systems) and Dell SecureWorks. We have a long history of innovation and know-how in this industry. Atlanta has always been at the center of telecommunications and mobile technology. There is a richness and depth in our expertise that has laid the foundation for us to be successful. Because of this foundation, it is easy for Atlanta to quickly embrace next-generation forms of technology, such as mobility, and be at the forefront of development and up-scaling. Our companies are leading the way in developing the apps and the latest ways to manage devices that are driving revenues, along with the market.

Q: What is the MAC Mobility Task Force and how has this group helped to push forward Atlanta’s mobility strategy?

A: The Metro Atlanta Chamber Mobility Task Force is the ‘who’s who’ of global mobility leaders representing companies like AT&T, Coca-Cola Co. and AirWatch. These high-level leaders in these global companies are lending their time, expertise, and muscles to propel forward this effort. Earlier this year, Airwatch made room on its stage at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain to announce our mobility initiative and leaders from Coca-Cola Co. and AT&T spoke about our task force efforts before a global audience. You have leaders like Chris Walters at The Weather Channel helping to lead our mobility industry growth efforts, along with entrepreneurs at one of our fastest-growing companies, Proximus Mobility. Now we have AT&T and Cisco partnering on a new Foundry innovation center near Georgia Tech. This kind of collaboration illustrates the key strengths of this powerful and ambitious taskforce.

Q: What have been some of Atlanta’s biggest mobility industry success stories to date?

A: Our biggest success stories have come from our companies. Most recently, AT&T selected Atlanta as the site of its latest Foundry innovation center, making our city one of only four in the world to have a prized innovation hub. Meanwhile, AirWatch announced one of the biggest investment rounds ever, raising a landmark $200 million. This year, global payments company, Elavon, picked Atlanta as the location for its new technology development center. Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America also chose to build a new research center at Georgia Tech in Atlanta.

Q: What does the future hold for the mobility industry and what is Atlanta’s stake in this fast-growing sector?

A: We are at the center of an industry and ecosystem that is only going to grow and become more in demand globally. Our growth potential is remarkable. We have companies, organizations, and strategies that ensure we are not only the mobility hub of today but also at the forefront of this industry for years to come.

Q: What role does ZTE play as a member of MAC and what will be the future of cooperation between ZTE and MAC?