Many states are deregulating the utilities industry with hopes to foster more compitition and lower pricing. Many think this has created more ways to scam the public with low priced rates with hidden monthly charges. Many consumers are surprised that energy rates are not what was promised. Thier is more to KWH rates then just per KWH charge. Many are finding out the hardway as consumers continue to switch, switch, switch to find the best rates.

Utlities companes are working harder to keep customers and offering cash and incintives to convert, now how does that lower rates? buying customers? They did not have that expense before, now they have to spend more money advertising and buy customers, how can that drive prices lower?

Time will tell, but many companies are reaching out to customers with better user interfaces and online solutions to keep customers from churning. Online solutions for bill presentment was the first wave to save paper but mostly to save postage and handling costs. The next wave will be to acutally offer energy consumption analysis to help customers lower their monthy consumption rates. Look for interactive calculators to assist customers in estimating kWH and areas to save in.

Yes, the big Telco's are scrambling to get a piece of the media delivery pie. The vision of TV content on your iPhone is closer than you think. Soon you will be able to lump Phone, PDA, Games, MP3 Player, and TV functions all into one device. iPhone and similar devices will be delivering real TV content "On Demand", streaming, and by the slice very soon. Video on demand is going through the same issues that the music industry has gone through with going digital. Movie companies are scrambling to embrace encryption logic to protect writes and income streams. Stay tuned for digital delivery 3.0.

Banks are hungry for additional revenue generation stratagies with low risk and low cost to enter to offset bad loans, defaulting assets and the increased load of under water REO assets. First tier banks are writing, developing, and buying solutions from third parties that they can offer through their business channels as added value. Second and Third Tier banks that do not have the resources are looking to partner and white label solutions for the same impact. Increase revenue, diversify, and keep risk and costs low. SaaS to the rescue here my friends. Look for solutions that can be resold to bank customers by the slice for minimal setup fees and high returns.

With the staggering costs associated with implementing or changing out an existing system, ERP solutions on premise may go the way of CRM. SaaS solutions are in demand or should I say "On Demand" with many companies as lower risk and speed to implement are top concerns.

Healthcare Billing is a mess, solutions that allow Healthcare providers to aggregate disparate billing systems and consolidate customer records will do well in the coming years. As healthcare providers are squeezed more from economic conditions and payers tighten on payment processing requirements, just collecting patient co-pays may become a quick source of income if they can offer simple online payment systems.