Just another WordPress weblog

The tone for CTIA was set before the expo even began. On Monday, there was an all-day Smartphone Summit, which consisted of a number of panel discussions. These were led by representatives from top handset makers like Nokia and Samsung, as well as analytical companies like The Yankee Group and In-Stat. The overall message was that smartphones aren’t just for business anymore. We’re seeing an increasing consumer demand for them, which means that we’re going to see a convergence of mobile technologies. And beyond that, we’re going to see a number of new phones which will better meet consumer needs.

Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) is already seeing a consumer-based smartphone market. It’s about a 65 - 35 split there in favor of the consumer, while those numbers are essentially flipped in the U.S. But what’s it going to take to get the U.S. market primed for better smartphone penetration?

I’m not really sure. Motorola is making inroads with their Moto Q9 series. It’s meant to be a consumer-friendly phone. Nokia is making strides, as they’ve divided their operation into three sections. First is the basic consumer phone, which contains your basic 12-button keypad. Then they have messaging phones, which are what we’re seeing a lot of in the U.S. These feature full QWERTY keyboards, and are optimized for messaging — email, IM, SMS. And finally is their smartphone, which is bringing together the latest in mobile technology.

They keynote was delivered by Symbian CEO Nigel Clifford, along with the company’s VP of marketing, Jorgen Behrens, who discussed their newest operating system. They noted that the focus was on massive data capabilities, a rich media experience, network throughput, and efficient power management. The last of that list really interested me, especially when they mentioned that the new Symbian OS would support Bluetooth 2.1 with lower power consumption.

Overall, I came away very impressed with the depth of the discussion. While I can’t say that I agree with one panelist’s prediction that smartphones will soon replace our laptops, I do agree that the convergence of mobile technology will build a better device that more people will want. And that’s regardless of their status as businessperson or consumer.

Share on Facebook | Add to De.licio.us | Digg This! | Technorati