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I'm obviously well behind in the race to be the first trendspotter for 2008, but since it's still January I reckon it's still early enough to look at the year ahead and aggregate what the experts say is likely to be big for multi-channel business innovators as we move seriously into the digital age.

I'm going to keep it simple because explanations could run into pages, so here's a few bullets on what I think is worth keeping an eye on for the future

1. Local and Hyperlocal social networks - My Street type thing – neighbourhoods, apartments, clubs, companies etc
2. Private social networks - More privacy in social networks
3. Opensource social networking - OpenSocial, OpenID, OpenAds, FOAF (Friend of a Friend networks)
4. SocialSoftware - White label social networking applications like KickApps
5. More Virtual reality - Second Life, There.com, Kaneva, Gaia, Habbo Hotel etc
6. DRM free music download from major players - This is pretty much done now
7. Internet TV and Video - IPTV, Video streaming & Online Cinema
8. Make it yourself media – Pictures, blogs, music, video
9. eReaders and eBooks - Kindle, Sony Reader
10. Videoblogging

1. Mobile expansion – Yes, it's stating the obvious!
2. Open source platforms and applications - Google Android
3. WiMax, Wifi services inflight (broadband inflight, on trains etc)
4. Mcdonalds recent provision of free wireless could start a high street trend. Once mobile internet becomes fast and free, the mobile as a browsing and commerce medium is seriously going to kick off and Touch Screen phones will become ubiquitous
5. Continued uptake of smart phones particularly in offices
6. Mobile Marketing
7. Mobile Payments - This gap is itching to be filled with a secure cost-effective payments provider. This is happening already with companies like LUUP and mCommerce will become a more serious prospect. Other more direct options like Obopay are also becoming available.
8. (Live) videocasting from mobiles to the web
9. Mobile social networking - Mobiluck, Migg33, Meetmoi, Loopt, SoonR, Aki-Aki are already some examples, with the standard twitter, tumblr, facebook status updaters already tapping into mobile mania
10. Mobile Spam - Surprised it hasn't happened yet! Major security implications.

1. Leveraging social networking for business return - Oldish news, but it's going to more than just about Facebook this year
2. Group buying - Crowdstorm, Yub.com
3. Social Shopping - Kaboodle, Wists, ThisNext
4. Network Analysis for marketing and customer relationship management - See my post on Natural Networks
5. Increasing digital/internet marketing - Rapidly growing Internet advertising market is expected to rake in US$27.5 billion in 2008, according to eMarketer.
6. Revenue sharing advertising models
7. Virtual payments - Paypal Secure Card, Google Checkout
8. Branded prepaid payment cards - Payoneer
9. Revenue based social networking - Dada, MeYouWorld etc. .. yes we're talking the dreaded pyramid schemes for the web

1. Outsourcing maturity
2. Business innovation will become more based on creativity and design - Design Thinking
3. Disruptive Innovation from other industries as new competition - unexpected entrants like the iPhone and Google adsense
4. "Peer-to-peer lending" - Facilitation of loans between complete strangers
5. Buyer niches – Gender, age, Generations 'Y' and ‘Z’
6. "Premiumisation" – Particularly air travel premium and business classes
7. "See hear buy" – eg. Music on websites, Books on kindle, Midomi (sound recognition search engine)
8. Social lending & Microfinance
9. Social Entrepreneurship & CSR

That should give you plenty to think about. Enjoy!