Smartphone popularity and the emergence of the tablet is obliging a device segmentation rethink

 

Although the global recession has impacted the volume of mobile handsets in recent years, this trend has not been seen in equal measure across all segments. While demand in the mid-tier fell away, sales of new smartphones had grown, due largely to consumer demand and mobile operators’ focus on increasing smartphone penetration. The impact of operating systems and the ways in which users interact with them via their smartphone is crucially important to operators and the future development of the mobile market.

Smartphones are responsible for over 80% of the data traffic that is currently overloading networks around the world. This offers a tremendous opportunity to handset manufacturers, OS providers and content and service suppliers, but a potentially massive problem for operators in trying to sustain the network capacity and quality of service for users.

Moreover, smartphone developments and the introduction of Apple’s iPad have accelerated convergence and started to reveal the potential value that mobile devices can offer to both consumers and enterprises alike. The fast-converging mobile broadband devices market means competing manufacturers and suppliers of devices from handsets to laptops are on a collision course. However, the battle for this potentially huge market will extend to competing operating systems, application systems and companies throughout the value chain. Until now the potential size of the mobile broadband device market has been uncertain, particularly the mid-market between handsets and laptops consisting of e-readers, tablets, notebooks and netbooks. The partnerships and alliances that ensue will prove crucial – with the winners being those that can meet the needs and provide the best end-user experience.

 

We help companies in the handset and devices ecosystem to:

 

• Understand how handset manufacturers are segmenting the market and how this aligns with customers and markets
• Review the emerging features and functionality, their impact on network traffic and the revenue-generating opportunities
• To see how smartphone sales and usage are going to have an escalating impact on network capacity requirements
• Review manufacturing and outsourcing strategies
• Understand how to assist OS operators and handset manufacturers with optimising their user experience
• Establish a competitive position via a thorough review of the significant players
• Align five-year strategy and sales projections with the latest market estimates
• To keep abreast of competitors and important trends in mobile operating ecosystems
• Track the growth of handsets and devices markets globally and identify those countries and regions which offer most growth potential
• Understand the challenges that the handset manufacturers and operators face and ensure their business is aligned

 

 

Key services:

Intelligence Centre is the single central source of all of our advisory analysis, primary research, market data and forecasts. The service enables you to quickly locate and share structured research on your business issues and markets. Find out more…

 

World Cellular Information Service is core to the strategic workflow of many leading players in the mobile space. These organisations use WCIS to track and forecast global mobile subscriptions, KPIs, financial and operational indicators via an intelligent online interface. Find out more…