NEWS ANALYSIS: Mobile World Congress is in full swing, and so far, big displays, Android and high-powered processors reign supreme. However, there are plenty of questions about Windows Phone and Nokia.
The 2012 Mobile World Congress is in
full swing in Barcelona, Spain. Just about every major company, including
Google, Motorola, Samsung, HTC and Sony, are showing off their smartphones and
tablets, hoping to impress the consumers they plan to attract later this year.
Notably missing from the show is Apple, which has historically balked at
joining in the fun, deciding instead to hold its own event.
Still, even
without Apple in attendance, Mobile World Congress is shaping up to be a
landmark event where countless vendors show off products that will tell us what
the future will look like in the mobile space. From bigger displays to Android
everywhere, it appears a host of trends are developing at Mobile World Congress
that could impact your decision-making over the next year.
Here's a look at what trends in
smartphones,
tablets and business mobility are emerging at this year's Mobile World Congress.
1.
Bigger is better
There's no question larger displays are
more desirable this year than smaller screens. For example, the Samsung Galaxy
Note with a 5-inch display now looks out of date. However, the company unveiled
a 10.1-inch Galaxy Note at Mobile World Congress this year, which is giving
customers a reason to re-examine the device. Add that to LG's giant Optimus 4X
HD and the Sony Xperia P's 4-inch screen, and it
quickly becomes clear that smaller displays are so 2011.
2.
Android galore
Where can't you find Android devices on
the floor at Mobile World Congress? Every major vendor, including LG, Samsung,
Sony and Motorola, is offering Android-based handsets and tablets, while other
operating systems, like Windows Phone 7, are left to hope for more love next
year.
3.
Microsoft needs Nokiadesperately
Speaking of Windows Phone 7, it appears
Microsoft will rely quite heavily on Nokia this year.
Although HTC has said it won't turn its back on Windows Phone 7 and other
companies are starting to dabble in the operating system, Nokia's announcement
of the Lumia 610 and Lumia 900 seems to prove that the handset maker is still
the world's top Windows Phone 7 vendor.
4.
Dual- and quad-core processors are everything
The days of single-core processors are
officially behind us. At nearly every stop at Mobile World Congress, attendees
can find devices boasting Nvidia's Tegra 2 dual-core processor or the company's
Tegra 3 quad-core chip. In fact, LG's Optimus 4X HD comes with Nvidia's Tegra 3
processor. Expect Apple to include a quad-core chip of its own in its upcoming
iPad 3.
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