Smartphones

As the name suggests, smartphones possess smarter capabilities than mobile phones, providing then additional, now essential functions like web browsing, multimedia entertainment, games etc – much like mini-computers, only small enough to fit in your pocket. Smartphones appeared in the market close to two decades ago as the alternative to mobile phones which carry the primary function to enable only two-way communication by text or calls. The smartphones of today have other extended capabilities including in-built high-quality camera lenses, mobile apps that aid productivity, video-streaming as well as connectivitiy that enable millions to stay connected while on the go.

What should we expect to see in the development of smartphones in the near future, say in the next five to ten years? This is probably hard to predict with accuracy due to the fast pace tech evolutions have been riding on. Yet, as we await with anticipation, why not observe the existing trends and make some wild guesses on where smartphones are heading? You shall see below a couple of features for smartphones that may become the focal points for development in the near future.

SmartPhones

Despite fierce competition in a crowded market, Saudi Arabia’s telecoms sector should see continued growth, driven largely by the expanding mobile internet and fixed broadband segments, according to recent reports from local investment groups. The Kingdom’s tech-savvy, high-income, younger generation, in particular, is earmarked to play a major part in boosting spending on data services and related products.

With rising smart phone penetration and upgraded networks, data fees will make up a greater portion of telecoms revenues in the coming years, Al Rajhi Capital said in a December report on the industry.

The Saudi mobile market is the most competitive in the Arab world, according to the Cellular Competition Intensity Index. While the mobile phone penetration rate stands at 181.6%, or nearly two subscriptions per individual, the still-young broadband market offers Saudi’s telecoms industry opportunities for growth. A report released in March by investment firm NCB Capital Total found that total revenue for the Kingdom’s three mobile operators, Saudi Telecommunication Company (STC), Mobily and Zain, is expected to increase 7% year-on-year (y-o-y) in 2013.

All three firms launched long-term evolution (LTE) networks in 2011, the service otherwise known as 4G. By the end of 2012, mobile broadband subscriptions had reached 12.3m, representing 42.1% of the population, and up from 9.7% in 2010, according to figures from the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC), Saudi Arabia’s regulator. Just over 40% of households had fixed broadband subscriptions in 2012, up from 27% in 2010.

The CITC attributes the uptick in data subscriptions in large part to growing smart phone penetration and competitive data packages being offered by providers. Both trends are expected to continue, with Saudi spending on ICT products forecast to grow by at least 10% in 2013. The regulator said spending would be spurred primarily by the purchase of smart phones, high-speed networks and interactive applications.