Wanted - 70 million mobile broadband enabled laptops

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 14 November 2007 04:46

IT Industry - Deals

A just-released report from market research firm, In-Stat, is forecasting smartphone sales to grow at more than a 30 percent compound annual for the next five years globally. " Smartphone use will grow mostly from use as a laptop replacement, and as a tool to help manufacturers develop feature phones," the research firm said. Already, according to In-Stat, The unit volume of smartphones sales globally already exceeds unit sales for laptops.

PC manufacturers Asus, Dell, Fujitsu Siemens, Lenovo, Twinhead and Vestel had welcomed the research report and expressed interest in working with mobile operators and the GSMA to fulfil this market demand, GSMA said. Twelve mobile operators supported and participated in the GSMA/Microsoft market research programme, including: DTAC, Maxis, MTN, Orange, Smart Communications, Telecom Italia, Telefónica O2, TeliaSonera, Turkcell, VimpelCom, Vodafone and Wind.

The winning PC will be chosen by a panel of product experts from leading operators, all planning to promote mobile broadband in their own markets. The winner will be announced at the wireless industry's largest global gathering - the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, in February 2008, and will be showcased to decision makers within mobile operators.

Manufacturers will be asked to provide a detailed specification, time to market information, recommended retail price-points, support services and information on how they would work with operators to promote activation, configuration and ease of use. who will select the device which most closely meets consumer needs.