Digital Lifescapes

Location-based mobile software applications are evolving, opening up a whole new realm of possibilities for smartphones and other devices. Ambient intelligence, also known as deep learning, is a relatively new term in the technology lexicon. And yet, according to the latest market study by ABI Research, it will become the major evolution in technology-based consumer services and quality of life applications over the next 10 years. Essentially, ambient intelligence is the ability of a system to appreciate its environment, be aware of the user -- and other people or objects -- within that environment and react. Moreover, the technology is capable of interpreting and responding to the user's needs, unprompted. "In technology terms ambient intelligence is the unification of hot new areas such as neural networks, big data, IoT, connected home, wearables, device user interfaces, and health or fitness, into services that can automate processes and make recommendations to improv...

The Internet of Things (IoT) is poised to potentially generate huge new market opportunities for current information technology (IT) or telecom companies and new start-up companies, according to the latest global market study by CompTIA. While IT executives are evenly split on the question of whether IoT is reality or hype, CompTIA asserts that the complex mix of hardware, software and professional services in the IoT ecosystem could create a high probability of upside growth for the industry. "Many IoT elements are rooted in traditional IT components, which is good news for IT companies experienced in building and linking complex systems," said Seth Robinson, senior director, technology analysis, CompTIA . He added, "At the same time, we're likely to see the emergence of many new firms focused on specific aspects of these systems, such as devices and data analysis. The true value of IoT will come from the combination and connectivity of all pieces." It...

The African continent could experience high growth and real socioeconomic advancement -- if only the nations of the region can end the debilitating ethnic wars and outlaw the deep-rooted local government corruption. Meanwhile, telecommunications infrastructure investment continues unabated. By end of 2018, it's estimated that half the African population will be covered by 4G LTE mobile networks, as LTE base station deployment swells at a CAGR of 40 percent over the next five years, according to the latest market study by ABI Research. However, LTE network population coverage will be far from homogenous across the region, with a few countries such as Angola and Namibia nearing the halfway point already, while wealthier nations like Botswana and Gabon have yet to deploy the advanced technology. "Part of the underlying reason for this digital divide is the different types of initiatives driving LTE roll-out," says Ying Kang Tan, research associate at ABI Research . ...

According to the latest market study by International Data Corporation (IDC), smartphone shipments are expected to grow by 32.7 percent year over year in 2013, reaching 958.8 million units -- that's up from 722.5 million units in 2012. 2013 will mark the first year that smartphone shipments surpass those of feature phones, with smartphones expected to account for 52.2 percent of all mobile phone shipments worldwide. IDC believes that this trend will continue as demand for mobile internet access spreads across both developed and emerging markets. In fact, emerging markets will account for 64.8 percent of all smartphones shipped during 2013 -- that's up from 43.1 percent in 2010. Strong demand from end users, greater emphasis by mobile service providers, and a deep selection of devices available from vendors at multiple price points are all contributing to smartphone adoption. In addition, user behavior has switched from simple voice telephony to digital content creation ...

The mobile communications ecosystem is now responsible for stimulating demand in many other related areas of the technology sector. As an example, mobile device semiconductors were one of the few bright spots in a chipset market that had stalled in 2011. Revenue from chipsets designed specifically for mobile devices increased by more than 20 percent to $35 billion, while the total semiconductor market in 2011 reached just a 2 percent year-on-year growth. "It’s tempting to describe this industry as lackluster," says Peter Cooney, practice director, semiconductors at ABI Research . "But then, some segments of the semiconductor market are booming and vendors concentrating on the mobile device sector have delivered very healthy growth in 2011." Shipments of mobile devices such as smartphones, media tablets, and e-book readers are in high-growth. They, as a result, are driving related growth for a range of semiconductor components -- including modems, application...

The evolving media tablet product segment has become a dynamic landscape since its inception about three years ago. In fact, there are currently more than 220 models in the marketplace from a variety of vendors. While the Apple iPad remains the brand leader in the media tablet segment, the market awareness has paved the way for more and more device manufacturers to enter the marketplace -- especially in the lower price product category. The market for sub-$400 media tablets is expected to see significant growth over the next five years, occupying more than 60 percent of the market share by 2016, while the market for the over $400 segment is expected to shrink. According to Jeff Orr, group director, consumer research at ABI Research , "The majority of new entrant media tablet models have been in the sub-$400 segment that focuses on growth markets like India and China. The strong wave of growth in this segment over the next few years is expected to be driven by the adoption in...

Mobile phone short messaging service (SMS) has been a huge windfall for most telcos. That said, here in the U.S. the inter-carrier deployment was late to market and SMS benefits were rarely promoted effectively by service providers. Regardless, SMS was a success due mostly to the eager early-adopter subscribers -- typically young girls who used word-of-mouth to increase adoption among their friends and family. Meanwhile, the revenue generated was a cash cow -- even for the most inept telcos. But in the absence of any meaningful service enhancement, and with pricing that was high relative to the perceived value, it was just a matter of time before this party was over. New estimates from Ovum indicate that increasing use of alternative IP-based social messaging services on their smartphones has cost mobile network service providers $8.7 billion in lost SMS revenues in 2010, and $13.9 billion in 2011. According to Ovum's latest market study, they expect the SMS decline -- rep...

All mobile phone service providers initially resisted any new capability that might reduce revenue from voice calls. However, driven by increased smartphone penetration and a growing breadth of offerings, mobile voice-over-IP (VoIP) usage is now on the rise. Moreover, the upside potential for greater adoption in 2012 is significant. As the addressable market of potential users increases with smartphone penetration a greater number of providers are introducing services -- including a growing handful of forward-thinking mobile operators that are beginning to embrace, to some degree, mobile VoIP. According to the latest market study by NPD In-Stat, active mobile VoIP subscriber rates tripled in 2011 -- growing from 9 million in 2010 to 29 million last year. "While VoIP is a well-defined market, mobile VoIP is still in its infancy, with most offerings only being developed over the past several years, and because it’s in its nascent stage, there are significant opportunities fo...

The UK government's stated ambition to offer the best superfast broadband services in Europe have been negatively impacted over the past six months, according to the latest market study by Point Topic . The deployment of IP next-generation (IP-NGN) broadband technology by BT and alternative network service providers has lagged a long way behind the original plans. Furthermore, the adoption of these services -- where they are available -- has apparently been disappointing. Research by Point Topic shows that its overall measure of broadband coverage has actually declined -- falling from 55 percent to 53 percent in the reporting period. Meanwhile, the number of customers subscribing to superfast broadband services has been below target in many areas. Market Development Challenges Point Topic believes that BT will catch up on its plans, over the next year or two, and they forecast that superfast broadband will be available to two-thirds of all the homes and businesses in the UK...