Introduction

Abstract

This chapter outlines the context, motivation, contributions, and organization of this book. This book aims to discover the right architecture for the emerging types of services and the constantly evolving technologies that are rewriting the whole landscape. The main focal question is whether the telecoms industry is undergoing a structural transformation or a consolidation towards smart environments. The paradigm shift is triggered by three major tectonic plates: the evolution of essential technologies; the metamorphosis of the ecosystems and the value chains; and the advent of new classes of services.