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| 17th March 2004 - Future cell phones
might not be radically different in how they look
in coming years, but what they will enable users
to do will change significantly, reports In-Stat/MDR.
The high-tech market research firm reports that
high-speed data access, Wi-Fi functionality, high-quality
video cameras, or viewing broadcast TV, are just
some of the future functionalities that are on the
horizon for cell phone users.
Service providers and manufacturers are paying
attention to the latest trends because they can
take off quickly in the fast-changing global cellular
business. No one wants to be caught short when
the next camera-phone phenomenon crops up. Some
of this technology already exists; it just hasn't
been widely deployed or accepted. Other technologies,
such as fuel cells, are just a year or so away
from commercial viability.
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Still other developments won't arrive in serious volumes
until the latter part of this decade.
- In an attempt to gauge end-user expectations for
future cell phones, In-Stat/MDR conducted a survey
that found the following:
- Many respondents want useful location-based applications
for finding friends or family, which is available
on some phones today, though not yet widely utilized.
- Most respondents had knowledge about the latest
technologies, but they were interested in sensible
benefits to their own usage. For instance, along with
location-based services, access to e-mail ranked highest
in a couple of the questions.
- Respondents are also interested in practical mapping
services and easier hands-free capabilities.
This Market Alert is drawn from the In-Stat/MDR report,
"Future
Cell Phones: What to Expect, and When", which
highlights many of the innovations that will impact
the cell phone industry in the coming years. It also
answers the question of when they will arrive. The report
outlines what to expect from Wi-Fi on handsets, when
fuel cells enter the picture and what location-based
service is likely to thrive. It also includes shipment
forecasts for many new technologies in addition to primary
research from end-users. The report also contains a
glimpse into what is under discussion for fourth generation
(4G) wireless technology and a leading design expert
offers his views on what is ahead for handsets.
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