Spiral Arm Logo

Spiral Arm News

Friday, January 27, 2006

Handset trends for 2006.


A Mako Analysis report, detailed in PhoneContent, identifies the following developments for 2006:

  • 3G devices will reduce in size and weight.
  • Bluetooth will be everywhere; infrared will be phased out.
  • Expect more colours.
  • Five megapixel pixel cameras.
  • Mobile music will be important.

Computing, citing Frost & Sullivan analysis, expect that 2006 will see commercial roll out of converged WiFi/mobile devices.


Meanwhile, with more interesting future-looking ideas, the results of the MOTOFWRD competition are reported by PhoneContent. The winner was the MoodPhone which "would light up in a spectrum of color - from warm reds to cool blues - based on the verbal patterns of everyday speech received through the handset. Seen through the corner of the eye, the visual stimulus would help users interpret the mood and inflection communicated through the words and phrases they hear."

by Richard @ 08:33

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Mobile health risks rejected.




The latest, and most detailed, study has found there's no increase in risk of brain tumour from using a mobile phone. "The British study found no link between glioma brain tumours and mobile phones, irrespective of the type of phone, how many hours a week they were used, or whether they were used in rural or urban areas", reports The Guardian.



Powerwatch, a campaign group, have dismissed the study and called for more research, reports The BBC.



Both The Guardian and The BBC provide a questions-and-answers format for concerns over mobile phone safety.

by Richard @ 08:18

Friday, January 20, 2006


Handset sales increase, but growth rate will slow.


Sony Ericsson report their best quarter, with 16.1 million phone shipments (up 28%), which includes 3m Walkman branded devices. The global figures for all handsets show an overall rise of 22% in devices, hitting 205m for the quarter.


Nokia still have the largest market share (32%), followed by Motorola (19%), then Samsung and Sony Ericsson.


Although handset sales are expected to continue to grow, albeit at a reduced rate, revenue for the handset manufacturers is expected to drop. "It's the classic set of circumstance: the world's mobile-phone markets are saturated, and sales are coming almost exclusively from replacement activity rather than new users." (The Register).

"Vendors are trying to boost demand in emerging markets with very cheap handsets. Elsewhere, the need to drive 3G adoption is forcing them to offer high-end phones at lower price points than they might once have commanded."


Sources:


by Richard @ 08:26

Monday, January 16, 2006

Personalized streamed music available on mobile.




Using the "Vodafone Radio DJ" it's possible to customize a genre-based station by giving feedback on likes and dislikes. The system then uses this information to select the next track from the library of 500,000 songs.
Reported in The Guardian.

by Richard @ 09:05

Friday, January 06, 2006

Mobile TV content.




"Brick-it" is being planned as a soap opera created and shot just for mobile delivery. Each day episodes will be available over 3G and GPRS networks, says
Computing.



by Richard @ 09:32

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Enterprise spending on mobile in 2008: US$130 billion




Market research by Visiongain suggests that enterprises currently spend US$50b on mobile and wireless (hardware, software and services combined). By the end of 2008, this is expected to be US$130b. Reported at mobilepipeline.



"One reason for the increase is that enterprises are becoming better organized to handle mobility issues, the study said."

by Richard @ 09:12