mobileu.co.uk

Report predicts surge in demand for smartphones

Smartphone providers are being urged to keep up with the competition in the mobile internet arena by demonstrating "more intelligence" in the delivery of services and applications.

The advice comes from global connectivity experts at Yankee Group, after research by the organisation revealed 60 per cent of respondents are likely or highly likely to purchase a smartphone as their next mobile device.

Phil Marshall, Yankee Group senior research fellow, told attendees at the 4G World event in Chicago that they should not assume business models and distribution channels which have worked in the past will continue to be profitable.

He stressed the need to keep up with "innovative non-carrier competitors" such as device makers Apple, Google, Microsoft, RIM and Nokia, as well as new entrants in emerging markets.

Furthermore, Marshall pointed out, Yankee Group's "Beyond 4G Rhetoric: Capitalising on the Mobile Internet" report highlighted that data traffic is expected to increase by more than 29 times between now and 2015, with most demand coming from smartphones.

"In addition to moving to all-IP cores, service providers must adopt holistic strategies to transform their entire network, IT and operational ecosystems," he continued.

"Service providers must capitalise on the mobile internet or perish."