Digital Lifescapes

Mobile device hardware security is becoming a priority as maturing applications for finance or government use increasingly demand more secure communication. Trust hardware and secure boot -- for trusted execution environments -- are necessary elements for such industries. Without this security assurance, applications for mobile commerce, mobile money or wallet will have some difficulty developing and reaching adoption by the big card payment providers, according to ABI Research. There are a number of obstacles barring the way to the full dynamic emergence of a hardware security market. Not least of which is the fragmented mobile device landscape, with as many players on the silicon IP side as in OEM manufacturing -- led by ARM, Trustonic, and Samsung. This particular mobile movement is also colliding head-on with long-standing efforts on the PC side that is looking to adapt tried and tested methods to the mobile landscape, with Intel and Microsoft pushing the market. Specificat...

Although an increasing number of taxis are equipped with embedded telematics units, this is being overshadowed by the rapid rise in popularity of smartphone-based taxi apps, which enable passengers to order a taxi and the driver receiving pick-up requests directly via their smartphone. According to the latest market study by ABI Research, most capital cities nowadays boast a number of smartphone-based taxi service apps. Some of the better known online services include Allocab, Hailo Cab, Uber Taxi, Easy Taxi, Kabbee, mytaxi, GetTaxi, Taxi.eu, Didi-Dache, Huaidi-Dache, MiniCabster, Chauffer-Prive.com, and Yongche. However, not all the smartphone software applications are the same, although the majority operate on a peer-to-peer basis -- thereby by-passing the traditional taxi companies. "Some, such as Hailo, work with the independent taxi drivers, but not the established taxi companies," said Gareth Owen, principal analyst at ABI Research . Others such as Uber compet...

As lower-cost online alternatives gain momentum, more Pay-TV service providers are attempting to make their legacy video entertainment offering more attractive by adding new features to their standard subscription package. DirecTV’s Genie, Liberty Global’s Horizon, Dish’s Hopper and the HD DVR boxes that power Comcast’s X1 service all have something in common -- other than better marketing names than an older generation of boxes more commonly known by their model numbers. According to the latest market study by ABI Research, these feature-rich devices bring more channel tuners to centralize digital video recorder (DVR) resources -- minimizing DVR conflicts, as well as better processing power. This increased processing power improves responsiveness and the device user interface. ABI believes that deployment of the device will also act as a Trojan Horse -- while pay-TV operators try to extend home automation and energy management services into their subscriber homes. These featur...

The phablet is a relatively new type of mobile device, which emerged as smartphone screens grew larger and user needs began to shift its focus away from basic voice and data communication -- towards mobile multimedia applications (apps). New findings from the latest market study by Juniper Research reveal that the phablet -- once perceived to have limited upside potential -- will ship over 120 million units by 2018, rising from an estimated 20 million in 2013. The device will find particularly receptive markets in East Asian territories such as South Korea -- with gamers who desire a larger surface to play on, and China -- where content streamers will benefit from a higher quality screen. Phablet Global Market Development The new study findings by Juniper now forecasts that the phablet market could become a growth area for established smartphone vendors -- allowing them to build flagship phablet models targeting the tech heavy user demographics. As evidenced by the rece...

The Chinese government has been an early pioneer of smart grid technology. Since embarking on its national smart metering project at the turn of the decade, more than 200 million new electricity meters have already been deployed across China. However, according to the latest market study by ABI Research, only around 50 million have so far been connected with bi-directional communication that can support true smart meter capabilities -- such as 'demand response' measurement. In short, this key smart meter project has not been that intelligent -- relatively speaking. But it is set to get smarter, and that means another wave of opportunity for utility industry technology providers. China’s smart meter rollout is a key deployment representing a significant share of smart meter shipments and investment worldwide. Furthermore, connectivity technology semiconductor providers -- such as ST Microelectronics, Silicon Labs, and Atmel -- are likely to benefit. Smart meter vendors -...

More smartphone users expect mobile Internet access when they travel abroad, it's a growing trend. Juniper Research has valued mobile network operator revenues generated from data roaming at $42 billion by 2018. This data usage will represent 47 percent of all global mobile roaming revenue, compared to an estimated 36 percent in 2013. Juniper notes that these revenues will be driven by rapidly increasing data usage, as operator migration towards 4G will induce subscribers to take advantage of faster broadband networks, while reductions in roaming charges will spur more frequent and heavier usage. Why 4G LTE will Drive the Roaming Business The new Juniper study found that with LTE deployments increasing and set to grow exponentially in all markets around the world, it will continue to fuel the explosion of roaming data usage. However, they also note that in order to achieve the full potential of LTE roaming, successful business models towards end-users and between mobile n...

Following the current worldwide trend, many of the people who have yet to experience the Internet will likely gain access via a mobile device -- such as a smartphone. ​During 2013, global mobile Internet service revenue is estimated to have grown 23.4 percent to roughly $300 billion, according to the latest market study by ABI Research. Wireless broadband subscriptions have increased by 28.8 percent, and the smartphone share of total subscriptions advanced by 6.6 percent to capture 27.5 percent of the overall market share pie. Despite the strong gains in mobile Internet adoption, global wireless service revenue is expected to have grown by just 3.2 percent -- to slightly over $1 trillion. In 2014, according to ABI's assessment, mobile Internet related revenue momentum will continue upward, with growth in the 13 to 15 percent range. LTE is providing some mobile network service provider upsell opportunities with multi-device plans and increased data quota plans, but by and la...

Are you ready for the next-generation of the global Internet? Are you prepared, as the world's governments and major industries all move forward to launch the coming wave of new innovations that will connect the previously unconnected? The Linux Foundation has announced the formation of the AllSeen Alliance . The group is described as a broad cross-industry consortium to advance the adoption and innovation within the Internet of Everything (IoE). The forward-looking IoE concept is based on the idea that devices, objects and systems can be connected in simple, transparent ways to enable the sharing of information via coordinated and intelligent operations. Since it's believed that no single company can achieve the level of interoperability required to support the IoE bold goals, a united cross-industry effort is needed to deliver new experiences to both consumers and businesses everywhere. The AllSeen Alliance looks to expand upon the notion of an Internet of Things (IoT...

Messaging on smartphones is assumed to be secure, but recent reports of new threats to user data integrity has created a renewed interest in the BlackBerry BBM robust messaging service. Meanwhile, independent software developers will offer enhanced app-based encryption solutions for other smartphones. Infonetics Research released excerpts from its latest global market study of short message service (SMS) and multimedia messaging service (MMS) security hardware and software -- such as SMS firewalls and mobile messaging security platforms. "The popularity of SMS and MMS has soared over the last decade, but carriers around the globe are just now beginning to seriously evaluate and deploy mobile messaging security solutions, forced by economic, regulatory, and attack conditions," said Jeff Wilson, principal analyst at Infonetics Research . Infonetics has identified an important trend that is a result of more government regulatory pressure across the globe. Major mobile netw...

The leading vendors of personal computers would much rather put the trials and tribulations of last year behind them, but the industry analysts won't let them. Worldwide PC shipments totaled 82.2 million units in the fourth quarter of 2013 (4Q13), representing a year-on-year contraction of -5.6 percent, according to the latest market study by International Data Corporation (IDC). For the full year 2013, unit shipments declined -10.0 percent from 2012 -- that's a record drop reflecting the changes in mobility and personal computing affecting the mature PC market. While commercial purchases helped to prevent a larger decline, the consumer side remained weak. "The PC market again came in very close to expectations, but unfortunately failed to significantly change the trajectory of growth," said Loren Loverde, vice president at IDC . Total shipments have now declined for seven consecutive quarters, and even the 2013 holiday shopping season was unable to inspire a ...

American smartphone user growth may have slowed in recent months, but the adoption and ongoing use of software apps continues to rise. comScore released summary data on key trends within the U.S. smartphone industry for November 2013. Apple ranked as the top smartphone manufacturer with 41.2 percent OEM market share, while Google Android led as the number one smartphone platform with 51.9 percent platform market share. Google Sites ranked as the overall top mobile web media property, while Facebook was the top individual software application. Smartphone OEM Market Share 152.5 million people in the U.S. owned smartphones (63.8 percent mobile market penetration) during the three months ending in November -- that's up 3 percent since August. Apple ranked as the top OEM with 41.2 percent of U.S. smartphone subscribers -- that's up 0.5 percentage points from August. Samsung ranked second with 26 percent market share (up 1.7 percentage points), followed by Motorola with ...

Mobile payments continue to represent one of the most dynamic and fast-evolving arenas of our connected society. This evolution encompasses what we now buy via the mobile commerce ecosystem, the payment mechanisms we use to buy it and the devices on which we shop for a selected product or service. Juniper Research now forecasts that annual retail payments on mobile handsets and tablets are expected to reach $707 billion by 2018, representing 30 percent of all eRetail by that time. This compares with mobile retail spend of $182 billion in 2013, when mobile accounted for around 15 percent of eRetail. The latest market study by Juniper found that leading retailers were increasingly developing strategies built around mobile, using it as a hub facilitating payment, product discovery and customer retention. As a result, it found that the size and scale of purchases across both smartphones and tablets was increasing strongly. However, for users owning both devices there was a strong tre...

While it's true that more people now purchase goods and services online in America, retail sales can still be impacted by economic uncertainty and other key factors that could derail spending. Moreover, buying various consumer electronics and associated services is common during the holiday season -- so these retailer trends matter to the Technology, Media and Telecommunications sector. comScore reported holiday season U.S. retail e-commerce spending from desktop computers for the first 52 days of the November-December 2013 holiday season, showing that $42.8 billion has been spent online from desktop devices -- that's an increase of 10 percent compared to the prior year. "The final online shopping week saw considerably softer sales than anticipated -- including zero billion dollar spending days -- although Monday and Tuesday came close," said Gian Fulgoni, chairman at comScore . Strong momentum coming out of Thanksgiving, in addition to heavy weekend buying, su...

The growing penetration of smartphones and tablets -- which are continually generating data about their user's location, activities and preferences -- means that these smart mobile devices have become a highly valuable advertising channel for savvy marketers. A case in point: in-app mobile advertising spend is forecast to reach $16.9 billion by 2018, that's up from $3.5 billion last year, according to the latest market study by Juniper Research. Growth will be driven by several key factors including improved targeting capabilities, as well as a trend for more effective interactive rich media ads to be deployed in preference to traditional static display advertising. Tablets are Gaining Ground on Smartphones The Juniper study uncovered that while smartphones currently account for approximately 70 percent of in-app advertising spend, the growth in tablet users and usage would propel greater medium-term spending. They also observed that tablet in-app ad spend would be fu...

Most of the world's leading telecom service providers have already abandoned long-range strategic plans to diversify their business and thereby create new sources of revenue. As an example, the notion of a two-sided business model, where ISPs extract new fees from content producers, has failed to gain momentum. Instead, most broadband service providers are now focused on two primary ways to optimize their infrastructure and cut-costs within their legacy business model. The first (near-term solution) is to outsource the management and operation of their core networks to vendors that offer full outsourcing or selective managed services. The second (long-term solution) is to embark upon a supplier diversity program, similar to the AT&T Domain 2.0 announcement last year. This approach includes the adoption of open architectures, low-cost white-box hardware and emerging industry standard software-based platforms -- such as SDN and NFV. A Race to the Bottom of Legacy Cost Stru...

Incumbent U.S. pay-TV service providers would rather forget 2013 -- since it will be remembered as one more year where the major MSO cable operators collectively reported hundreds of thousands more video subscriber disconnects and service downgrades each and every quarter. In urban markets throughout America, price-sensitive consumers abandoned traditional pay-TV service and turned to a combination of free over-the-air broadcast digital television and subscription streaming OTT video entertainment offerings -- such as Netflix and Hulu. In some markets Telco challengers gained new pay-TV subscribers with limited-term lower-price service bundle promotions. However, once the promotions expire, some of these subscribers fail to convert to full-price customers. The story is very similar in other saturated markets all around the world. Global Pay-TV Subscription Market in Transition Infonetics Research released findings from its latest "Pay TV Services and Subscribers" mark...

As more people adopt using mobile internet access on a regular basis, broadband service providers continue to build-out their infrastructure to support the increase in predictable network traffic. Other related infrastructure investment is being aligned with anticipated market demand. ABI Research finds IMS Core Network deployments are edging up as mobile network operators put the necessary infrastructure and capacity in place for planned 2014 VoLTE launches. Spending for the core network products (HSS, CSC, Media Controllers and Gateways, MSF, IBCF, SBC and P-CSCF) integral to a functioning IMS network will reach $4 billion by 2017. "We see increasing IMS Core Network revenues through 2017, after which IMS revenues will flatten and reflect capacity expansion," said Joe Hoffman, research director at ABI Research . IMS spending for mobile 4G markets follows the LTE deployments, as mobile network operators seek to get their network coverage in place, stabilized, and com...

As consumer electronics and video entertainment industry analysts are preparing to descend upon Las Vegas once again, to attend the International CES next week, perhaps now is the perfect time to consider the outlook for the evolving pay-TV sector. Infonetics Research has released excerpts from its latest global market study and associated report, which tracks pay-TV subscribers and video equipment sold to telco IPTV, cable and satellite television service providers. "Pay-TV providers are sweating their existing encoding assets as they wait for the next generation of platforms that support HEVC (high efficiency video coding) so they can reduce current bandwidth requirements while preparing for ultra-definition TV, such as 4K," said Jeff Heynen, principal analyst for broadband access and pay-TV at Infonetics Research . According to the Infonetics global market assessment, demand for contribution encoders among broadcasters will remain steady through 2017, with increases ...

According to the latest market study by International Data Corporation (IDC), the Big Data technology and services market will grow at a 27 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to $32.4 billion through 2017. Expect to hear more about Big Data and associated analytics software in 2014. To put this forecast into perspective, consider that's about six times the growth rate of the overall information and communication technology (ICT) market. Although there are multiple scenarios that could unfold and many demand and supply variables remain in flux, IDC expects the market to exhibit strong growth over the next five years. "The Big Data technology and services market represents a fast-growing multi-billion dollar worldwide opportunity," said Dan Vesset, Vice President at IDC . "The Big Data market is expanding rapidly as large IT companies and start-ups vie for customers and market share." Because of the rapidly developing nature of this market, IDC con...