One of the most interesting topics of conversation around the Mobile World Congress conference this week was the shrinking cost of smartphones worldwide.
Like many new tech products, smartphones began as a business tool for executives and a luxury toy for those with disposable income. But the functionality of the devices eventually seeped into consumer markets. The immense popularity of smart devices – which now also includes tablet PCs and gaming consoles – in developed markets like the United States have helped move the market. Today, prices have fallen to a point where smartphones are available to the masses.
Smartphones on display at Mobile World Congress
Next up is the emerging markets and CNET, in a post earlier this week, captured a snapshot of today’s market. Author Jessica Dolcourt noted that the “mass market in question goes well beyond the budget-conscious living in developed markets… much of the world is still transitioning from basic phones to high-end feature phones.”
The focus today, she wrote, is on getting smartphones into the hands of people in emerging markets.
With that said, a Broadcom announcement at Mobile World Congress illustrates this trend. Several new smartphone platforms will now enable manufacturers to develop smartphones with all the bells and whistles that consumers want but at prices they can afford. The BCM28145, BCM28155 and BCM21654G processors are designed to meet smartphone criteria, supporting fast 3G cellular networks, at least 1 GHz processing power, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and high resolution photo and video capture.
We tend to get caught up in the bells and whistles of the latest and greatest gizmos and gadgets but it’s important to remember that 90 percent of the available market in the coming years will be for entry- to mid-level smartphones. We believe that what happens in emerging markets over the next several years will have a huge impact on the global economy. We’re happy to be the provider of quality technology for the 90 percent that’s just starting to recognize the experience of carrying a smart device.
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