Five 2010 Cell Phone Predictions

We are but four days into the new year and already the internet is almost groaning under the weight of lists of looks back at the year/decade that was and/or the year/decade that is to come.

For whatever the reason, be it the change in decade or be it the 10 year mark in the new century, journalists and blog writers all over the world have been producing a lot of top 10 lists lately. So really is only one thing for us to do.

Put out one of our own.

If there is one thing that has gotten a lot of attention over the last several years it’s the cell phone.

Interest in MP4 players is strong around Christmas (especially with the high definition players that are coming out) but fading and The initial buzz around netbooks that emerged in the start of 2009 has died down. But the cell phone has continued to hold people’s focus.

There has been so many developments in mobile phone technology and so much jockeying around brand and smartphone OS that the cell phone has been THE topic of interest for blog and technology writers in 2009 and, we predict, in 2010.

So, lets take a look at industry developments and likely innovations to come out of the next 12 months:

Prediction 1: There’ll Be A Smartphone Showdown Between Apple, Nokia & Google

Apple’s iPhone has had a dream run over the last few years, which was continued on with the iPhone 3G release of this year.

According to txt forever (txt4ever.wordpress.com/2009/11/04/smartphone-sales-latest-figures-reveal-nokia-the-market-leader-by-far/) Apple became the third biggest player in the smartphone market alone behind Nokia and RIM on the strength of the iPhone alone, that’s a standing that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Unfortunately for Apple Google is looking to take some of their market share away from them.

While Google Android software was launched in 2007/2008 and it has done little to take away market share from any of the major players the Google android train has been gaining momentum. There have been 18 devices to date running Android OS software, including Motorola’s Droid. According to a PC world report Apple needs to be VERY worried about Android ( pcworld.com/article/185830/android_vs_iphone_lets_get_ready_to_rumble.html )

In 2010 Android interest and devices are only going to increase. There is already talk of a Google branded ‘Nexus One’ phone and Chinese phone makers haven’t even got into the act, but that’s not to say that people don’t want them to.

A comment from drsquirrel0 on the YouTube video for our very popular Odyssey WiFi Phone tells the story:

Dear China,

Please make more phones with? Android.

kthxbye

😛

So where is Nokia in this ‘Battle Royale’?

While Nokia put out the N900 in November last year The Maemo 5 OS will prove to be its undoing. Many phone software developers have welcomed the announcement of the Maemo 5 release with an overwhelming Meh! In fact, in a not exactly unbiased review mobile industry review found only 43% of developers cared about Maemo (mobileindustryreview.com/2009/11/nokias_maemo_43_of_mobile_developers_in_favour.html).

Prediction 2: GPS Capability Will Turn Up On More Phones

What does Apple’s iPhone, Google’s Android and Nokia’s N900 have in common?

They all run Google maps.

People want to know where they are going and where they are especially in the age of Geotagging when Google Earth and Microsoft Virtual Earth is free to anybody with an internet connection. And the phone makes sense to people as the device to use.

There are a number of ‘transition’ devices out there like our Galileo 5 Inch Touch Screen Multimedia GPS Navigator w/Bluetooth but we will undoubtedly see more GPS-capable phones out there.

The Galileo 5 Inch Touch Screen Multimedia GPS Navigator w/Bluetooth, one way to get your GPS and phone calls in one place.

Prediction 3: WiFi Will Continue To Be A Big Thing

When Michael Wong asked you what you wanted in a cell phone in the blog How To Buy Cell Phones, An Online Guide in September the vast majority of you chose internet connectivity.

We listened and added a whole range of affordable WiFi phones to our line-up. People’s appetites haven’t been whetted and you can expect many more to be added in 2010.

Prediction 4: Phones Will Be Able To Play And Read More Files

One thing that our customers are constantly asking when it comes to media, TV phones is for the phones to play more files and generally do more.

Everything from FLV to PDF to FLAC and RMVB has been requested and it’s something that cell phone makers can do without too much effort so expect to see this more in the coming year.

Prediction 5: Cell Phones Will In The Battle Between Netbooks And Smartphones

At the start of 2009 the big mover was meant to be netbooks. While they have gained market share (especially against the larger notebook) it has seen extra competition from the ebook and renewed pending competition from the Mobile Internet Device tablet (because sometimes size IS everything).

What these devices can’t do is make phone calls, or be held in one hand easily and that’s something phones will hold over them for quite a long time.

So check out our wide selection of unlocked phones let us know what you think will be the hot pics of 2009 in the poll below or let us know what you think by leaving a comment.