In-Stat: Handset Biz Headed For Major Shake Up

Like it or not, technology is an important part of our everyday lives. As we come to rely on it more and more for the little things (like remembering to attend meetings or pick up the kids from soccer practice), how we interact with it becomes increasingly vital. And that is set to change.Newer technologies, including touchscreens such as the iPhone's, are beginning to reshape how people think about technology - and mobile phones in particular. In-Stat's latest report details how Wi-Fi, WiMAX, multimedia services and touchscreens are going to initiate a paradigm shift with respect to mobile computing.

"These influences will have a powerful effect on the design of mobile devices, as well as the semiconductors and applications used in them," said David Chamberlain, In-Stat analyst in a prepared statement.

I agree.

Touchscreens are nothing new. Windows Mobile devices and Palm Pilots (and Treos) have used them for a long time. Why they are not more prevalent probably rests more with the underlying user interfaces than with the technology itself. Apple took the use of the touchscreen interface forward a few steps, to be sure, but there are still many improvements to be made in interacting with panels of glass.

In-Stat also argues that mobile video technology and applications will also have a major impact on the way. It notes:

Deployment of mobile broadcast networks (e.g., DVB-H and MediaFLO), as well as other sources of video for mobile devices, will require changes to handset applications, semiconductors, and displays to provide the best viewing experience.

While this is no doubt true, I think mobile Internet applications are going to have a bigger impact on mobile phones of the future. Using the iPhone's browser has completely spoiled me. Not that I was poor off before, but having such a capable browser with me constantly has dramatically altered how much I use the Internet from my phone and for what. This sort of "A-Ha!" moment will infect more and more people as they become acquainted with what the mobile Internet, mobile TV/video applications and other mobile services can offer.