In 2010, at a macro level, we have seen the emergence of the tablet category with players like Samsung and Dell trying to challenge the Apple iPad. 2011 is stated to be the year of the tablet. Even within the handset category, there are several interesting changes happening?many of them apparently minor, but like the ‘butterfly effect? in the chaos theory, these could lead to major technology and habit shifts over time.
We have seen the emergence of super Amoled screens that make viewing mobile screens akin to an experience of a LED TV screen, 12 MP cameras in devices, 32 GB memory capacity, 32 GB memory card support, super thin slide out Qwerty devices like the Motorola Milestone, free GPS navigation courtesy Nokia, processor speeds up to 1Ghz, separate graphic accelerator processors, email and chat on the move, quantum reduction in prices of touch category devices to make them a mass market, software?s like Swype that enable joining the alphabets on a virtual keypad to create text, and so forth. The innovation list continues to grow.
2011 promises more from the brands as each one vies for a larger share of the 13 million a month market that India has in the mobile device segment. Let?s examine some interesting smaller trends which could keep the consumer smiling in the year ahead.
With the effort to broad base the super Amoled screen experience, Samsung will bring out their Super Clear LCD, which is thicker than super Amoled but more cost effective without compromising on display quality. Their Wave 2 and Galaxy S (in two variants of memory capacity) will be the first devices with this display. Nokia will launch their Clear Black Display to ensure a better viewing experience in the sunlight. Sony Ericsson is launching their new LED Display (Reality Display) with the X12 (Codename Arc).
LG is on the verge of launching a complete new 3D display technology called Stereoscopic Display. Apple has introduced the Retina IPS display (In plane switching). This will lead to wider viewing angle compared to typical LCDs, that is, one can hold the device almost any way and still get a brilliant picture. Handset brands will launch true 3D converging technology phones. LG is launching their new device with dual camera at the rear that will capture pictures and convert them to 3D.
Devices shall come with dual core processors (Terga and Nvidia) rather than one. There will be bifurcation of the processor sitting on the same chip or motherboard. With applications becoming the mainstay, this will enable applications to open much faster, browsing experience becoming real like, etc. This will also improve the graphic interface experience.
There will be fusion of the slide Qwerty with the main body to ensure non-increase in size/thickness of the device. A classic example is the Nokia?s new E7 which is a super-premium slide Qwerty phone. The thickness is ditto their best-selling N8 and even with a larger screen of 4-inch versus 3.5-inch of the N8.
Changing trends in the software front shall see launch of several new Android versions like the soon to be launched Gingerbread followed by Honeycomb. Motorola may well be the first company to launch a device with Android 3 aka Honeycomb and could be the first to launch Android 2.3 aka Gingerbread.
Samsung will continue their focus on Bada. Nokia will also not let go their stronghold on the Symbian OS and will only launch upgrades for the same to make it more stable and useful.
There will new versions of Bluetooth and WIFI (Wi-Fi 802.11n). These promise a quantum increase in bandwidth (up to 300 Mbps vs. 54 Mbps) and improved performance at longer ranges.
Bluetooth 3.0 similarly promises faster speeds (24 Mbps vs. 3 Mbps) and adds better power management. The WIFI-N is supported by Nokia N8 and Samsung Wave 2 (S8530). BT-3 is also supported by the same two devices. Blackberry could remain the uncrowned king in instant messaging. New software like Whatsapp and KIK are creating ripples in the market.
Video recording till now was at 15 to 30 frames per second. The low-end phones may change to 30 FPS. On the new high-end devices, there will be HD video recording and playback. An example is the Nokia N8, Samsung Galaxy S, Motorola XT720. Their HDMI out port also enhances video playback from devices and may become a defacto standard in expensive phones.
All device chargers shall become one?mini flat USB. This is a basis agreement reached between all the lead brands. A combination of major and minor technology innovations promises to keep the consumer addicted to the mobile phone in the year ahead.
The writer is CEO, Spice Hotspot