Robert Mahowald is a Research Vice President at IDC and leads the SaaS & Cloud Services practice as well as co-leads IDC's Cloud Services: Global Overview program. In his role, Robert advises clients on key trends and opportunities in the changing world of software creation and delivery. His research identifies trends and market dynamics in software development, licensing, and delivery characteristics of the SaaS delivery model, and provides a unique, pan-software market view with both demand (customer) and supply-side (vendor ) insights, building go-to-market and management strategies for SaaS and traditional IT vendors.

An experienced speaker, Mr. Mahowald is well-known as a subject matter expert in the areas of SaaS, IT Cloud services and software application delivery, and he has been a featured lecturer at various executive events, industry seminars and conferences such as InternetWorld, and on such television programs as CNBC and CNET TV. Mr. Mahowald's research and commentary has appeared in trade journals and publications including The Wall Street Journal, USAToday, The New York Times, and Investor's Business Daily.

A 10-year industry veteran, Mr. Mahowald previously led research for IDC's Collaborative Computing practice, in areas such as Unified Communications, Web conferencing and team collaboration. Before joining IDC, Mr. Mahowald was an officer in the US Army, earning the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in his 26 year career of active and reserve service. Mr. Mahowald earned his B.A. from the University of Iowa, in Iowa City, IA., and his M.A. from Wesleyan University, in Middletown, CT.

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