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Google Inc. (GOOGL) Android TV Targeting 330 Million Devices Market By 2017 !

By
Vasanth R
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0

Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is reportedly making plans to develop Android TV, according to documents obtained by The Verge. The search giant, whose Android OS already powers 80% of all smartphones worldwide, is pushing for new platforms to expand on. Its previous attempt at connected television was the Google TV, which  failed due to its complex user interface. Through Android TV, Google is aiming to provide an entertainment interface, not a computing platform, to compete with the likes of Apple TV, recently launched Amazon.com Inc.(NASDAQ:AMZN) Fire TV, and Roku. The company already features a device named Chromecast, which streams video content from the computer, smartphone or tablet directly, to the HDTV. Several other such devices already exist in the market, and Google will be aiming to grab a share of the fast growing internet TV segment.

Tech Companies And Households Have Embraced Streaming Devices

Apple founder Steve jobs had apparently cracked the code of the rumored ‘iTV’, a device which would be the evolved form of Apple TV. Despite pressure and wide range of rumors, Apple has remained steady with its current version of  Apple TV. The company is working with content providers and cable companies to allow the devices to sync iTunes library with video content, for its latest TV. The delayed response has allowed other companies to boost their own streaming devices and expand into new avenues that Apple has previously avoided. E-commerce giant Amazon has officially entered into the foray by releasing Fire TV, priced at US$99. The device will sync up well for people already familiar with Amazon’s ecosystem. The device can be used for streaming media, and features an additional controller as an accessory for gaming, that can be purchased for US $39.

Fire TV

Research conducted by Parks Associate research, shows the number of U.S broadband households using a media streaming device has doubled since 2011 to almost 14%  in 2013. In an independent survey of 10000 U.S broadband households, conducted during the Q1 of 2013, Parks Associate found that among households with a media streaming device, 37%  primarily use a Roku compared to 24% that use an Apple TV. The market for such connected TV devices sold world-wide will reach 330 million units annually by 2017, as more households are expected to buy Smart TVs, gaming consoles, Blu-ray players and streaming video media devices in coming years. This will cause average product prices to decline and  force sales revenue to grow by 100%.

connected devices

The television market and consumption of content has evolved rapidly and in different ways. Television viewing time has dropped, but media consumption by consumers is growing at an expedited rate. In the process, these set top devices have emerged as quick and efficient ways to access TV shows and movies. By entering this segment, Google will be looking to avoid the mistakes of Google TV, and take on Apple and Amazon directly.

Google’s Foray Into The TV Segment Through Android TV

Google’s new vision for Android TV calls for a simple, easy to use interface. Developers have been asked to develop extremely simple apps for a simple set-top box interface. The interface will reportedly will consist of a set of scrolling cards that represent movies, shows, apps and games sitting on a shelf. One Google document claims it should never take users more than three clicks or gestures to get from the home screen to new content, the Verge said. The system will also boast a universal search function that can quickly find content across content delivery services as well as individual apps. Several key features in Google TV which include VoIP, cameras, touchscreens and NFC support will be scrapped. Its own apps, including Google Play movies, YouTube and Hangouts will also be featured.

Google’s premiere hardware partners including LG and Samsung are reportedly developing their own OS for their television sets. Samsung is currently the global smart Smart TV leader with a market share of 26%, while nearest competitor LG registered 14.4% of Smart TV shipments. Some rumors suggested that Google would develop Android TV by itself, forcing it to compete with its hardware partners. If the rumored TV is indeed an OS, several TV hardware makers will need to decide between using it for their televisions or risk going ahead with their own Operating systems. LG has already installed webOS on its range of  Smart TVs, which is based on the platform that appeared in Palm smartphones.

Android TV

Google has already announced its OS for smartwatches, named Android wear. These new plans if confirmed, signals the company’s intent to feature prominently in more platforms. Google TV has been given a quiet burial, and the tech giant has instead encouraged consumer electronics manufacturers like Hisense to use Android for their own TV experiences. Through Android TV, Google will be looking to represent its very own version on how an Android based TV should look like, as opposed to a platform that it tries to force the entire industry to adopt.

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Hackers Will Pounce On Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Windows XP 10 Minutes After Support Terminates!

By
Vasanth R
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3

On April 8 2014, the decade long support from Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) for Windows XP will be terminated. This means no more security updates, patches, or technical support for the popular OS, which is still running on 30% of all computers! Windows XP has had the longest shelf life among all the operating systems thanks to its vast user base. The shutdown had been scheduled for April 2009, but was delayed because of its large user base among home and enterprise users. Desperate pleas to shift to newer operating systems have apparently fallen on deaf ears. This also means the unleashing of spyware, viruses and other malware, for which anti-virus software will not be able to offer complete protection. Many users and businesses have not taken the plunge, due to high dependency on Windows XP and by citing the high cost of purchasing new hardware. For those unable to shift their critical environments from XP to any other version, Microsoft would still offer some support at a premium cost. If you are aware of anyone who still needs to update their OS, please share this information with them.

This frightening infographic shows how negligent industries have been in upgrading from XP, and the security implications they are likely to face:

  • 95% of bank ATMs will be exposed to new kind of cyber attacks, when Microsoft stops support for XP.
  • Experts say it would cost an estimated US$200 Billion to US$700 Billion  to update the ATMs.
  • Windows XP is incorporated so deeply in utility management systems, that it would cost an estimated US$100 million and several years of work to upgrade the outdated system.
  • Research by EHI intelligence revels that 85% of England’s healthcare system IT systems were still using Windows XP.
  • A former computer specialist and network engineer has indicated that hackers would pounce on Windows XP just ten minutes after Microsoft terminates support!
  • Another starling find is the market share of XP, which is still 29.23% as of February 2014. Interestingly, users char towards XP is bowing no sign to fade out as market share of XP increased by 0.55% in 2014!

Switching to Windows 8.1 on PC is an expensive option for the 1.63 billion PCs around the world, running on XP. An alternative is to use Windows 7, which is the most popular OS in desktop systems currently, though the switch to Windows 8 is likely sooner or later. A version of Linux named Xubuntu, resembling Windows XP is another attractive option, and is free of cost.  Unless theses steps are taken urgently, several businesses and banks around the world are likely to face a relentless wave of cyber attacks.

End-of-XP

 

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How Mobile Technology Is Impacting Healthcare Delivery In The U.S. !

By
Dazeinfo
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0

In 2014, 9 out of 10 doctors will use a smartphone, with nearly the same percentage having access to tablets, Epocrates reports in their 2013 Mobile Trends Reports. With so many medical professionals using smartphones in their personal life, a large percentage have come to expect or prefer it professionally. This has led to some exciting new shifts around health care delivery. The rollout of the Affordable Care Act may showcase some existing new shifts. In the meantime, these three methods show some of the ways that the healthcare community has already been accommodating of mobile technology, while still respecting privacy mandates under HIPAA.

Doctors Using Smartphone in 2014

Text a Doctor Apps

While HIPAA privacy concerns have kept doctor-emailing and texting from going mainstream, several apps allow you to check in with a doctor via text message. These include First Opinion, an iTunes and Google Play app that’s free to download and $9 per month to use. First Opinion matches you with a medical provider, so you don’t have to get bounced around a telephone line waiting for someone who can explicitly address your concern. Text back and forth with the doctor. Because you are going by first name only, there’s no way for the doctor to access confidential medical information, so your private information stays private and HIPAA is upheld. First Opinion can be a great way to get a bit of information as to whether you should seek further medical attention for something or whether you can treat a condition like a sore muscle, without going to the doctor.

Other apps, like Mobile Doctor (available at the Google Play store), allow doctors to safely and securely interact with their existing patients via text message. The app integrates with Need Street’s Virtual Practice, and allows providers who subscribe to Virtual Practice to schedule patent appointments, check in with patients, access patient health records, and reply to patient text or email queries through a secure mobile interface.

Virtual Doctor’s Appointments

If you prefer a face-to-face consult with a doctor, MeMD’s virtual doctor’s appointment via webcam connects you to a healthcare provider who is licensed to practice medicine in your state. You can speak with a nurse or a doctor about your concerns. These individuals can call in a prescription for you, which you can pick up at a local pharmacy. This works very well when you have a minor medical concern and cannot get an appointment at your local doctor’s office. Patients use MeMD (available at MeMD.com) for allergies, bronchitis, cough and colds, bee stings, dehydration, diarrhea, headaches, hives, nausea, pinkeye, skin irritations, and other conditions. Note that MeMD may refer you to a local facility should you need to undergo further medical testing.

Email a Photo

You have a new rash on your arm, and want to know if you should be concerned. New app AppwoRx (MyAppWorx.com) lets you snap an image of your rash and send it to your doctor for over-the-smartphone analysis. The app can also be invaluable for before and after surgery photos that allow both the patient and doctor to monitor the recovery process and catch any side effects early on. The app was developed by a doctor, costs doctors $70 per month to use, and is free for patients.

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Apple Inc. (AAPL) iOS Users 5X More Likely To Buy Online Than Android !

By
Vasanth R
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2

The battle between Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) owned iOS and Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) owned Android has raged fiercely for the last five years. Android has relentlessly captured market share over the past five years, taking the mobile OS world by storm. But even with 79% of the market share, Google is still unable to reap the profits. Android’s free mobile strategy to the masses is commendable, but not the most profitable market strategy. Hardware vendors gain more through this strategy, by customised the OS to suit their needs. Price sensitive smartphone customers in India, China and Brazil are swelling Android adoption numbers, but largely being confined into the ‘free’ zones and not making payment though platform.

Apple has devoted its time and money to cultivate a hardcore consumer following that appreciates premium products, despite their high price. The iPhone and iPad maker earns directly through the sale of its iOS powered devices. Its seamless mobile experience, allowing customers to easily buy songs, apps and movies through a flawless user interface, is another huge wining factor. It follows logically that Apple customers on average, have more disposable income and likely higher incomes. It’s no surprise that Apple is ranked as the world’s most valuable company in 2014 with a market capitalization of  US$436.6 billion. It also boasts a 76% retention rate among its users, but faces challenges in attracting new customers.

Here is an infographic highlighting the war between the top two mobile operating systems, and the inequality between market share and money.

  • Android OS currently powers 79% of all devices, while iOS boots on 14.2%.
  • In 2011, the market share of Android OS grew the fastest to 50.2%, up from 27.9% in 2010. It was also the year where iOS had a 23.8% market share, its largest till date.
  • Nokia’s Symbian OS had the largest market share in 2010 at 37.6%. Blackberry held the second position with 19.9% of the OS market.
  • iOS users are 5 times more likely to buy things online than Android users.
  • An iOS user makes an average transaction of US$93.94 while an Android User spends 48.1$ per transaction.
  • The iOS store had 60 billion downloads as of October 2013, while the Google Play store had 50 billion downloads as of July 2013.

Online retailers will be forced to recognize that iOS is currently the most profitable mobile segment. One of their top priorities will be to make sure that their e-commerce stores is rendering beautifully on Apple devices. Google is rumored to be creating an Apple like experience through its Android Silver project, while Apple is pushing an 8GB version of its iPhone 5C model in emerging markets to scale up its market share. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has also jumped into the fray by giving its Windows Phone OS for free. No matter which moves these tech giants make, it will be the customer who ultimately wins.

iOS vs Android

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Should Facebook Inc. (FB) Be Anxious About Line App’s Growth?

By
Ilan Nass
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1

Surely it’s old news by now that Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ:FB) paid $19 billion for WhatsApp in cash and stock. After plugging in the numbers, it essentially paid $42 per user. Apparently, the decision to acquire WhatsApp is proving worth as mobile messaging app recently tweeted that it has hit a new milestone by delivering 64 billion messages in one day, which is 20 billion outgoing and 44 billion incoming messages, to be more precise.

Line mobile app number of users growth 2014

Value Worth Of Each App User

What is a mobile messaging app user worth? And how do we know if the price is too high or low?

While WhatsApp has about 465 million users and the Japanese app Line, providing free mobile messaging, voice and video calls, has grown to 350 million users in February 400 million users in April this year, and out of which 210 million are active users. So can we apply the same numbers to that app?

Stock Prices Plummet

When the news broke about how much Facebook paid for WhatsApp, Line, who is owned by South Korean Naver but most popular in Japan, price dropped. And it had nothing to do with investors being worried that Facebook will be a direct competitor in their region.

The initial drop may have to do with investors only valuing active users of messaging apps at $35 each, whereas the current market cap of Facebook values it roughly at $140 MAU (monthly active users).

How Much Line Is Really Worth

Line has stated that they were optimistic about being able to hit 500 million registered users by the end of 2014. We have no idea how many of these users are active though, since the app has never confirmed any numbers. Nomura, an asset capital corporation, figures that approximately 210 million users are active.

Nomura’s Eric Cha also explains that Naver’s, the company that owns Line, regular business is valued at $6.8 billion which leaves the $18.2 billion of their market cap as the assumed value of Line. This valuation prices Line’s active users at $87, more than double of what Facebook paid for Whatsapp.

It isn’t really clear whether Facebook overpaid for Whatsapp though, since different valuations are reaching different conclusions. But nothing is certain about Line either. They don’t report their active users or exactly how much profit they make, if any.

There is a rumor floating around that Line will look for a $30 billion IPO by mid-2014.

Was It Really Worth The Price

$87 is a huge sum per active user, especially assuming that international users are worth more than North American or Western users, but only if these users make in-app purchases.

When we think about how companies monetize their users, Asian companies are pretty far ahead in how they monetize compared to their North American counterparts.

This means that investors who know the companies in Asia well will value them much higher.

In Asia, apps like Line make their money by selling products such as games and stickers. Line recently did a group buying flash sale, kind of like Groupon, which was highly successful in Thailand. The lesson learned here is that if you get a group together, you can essentially sell to them. Americans tend to be less interested in in-app purchases though, since ads are constantly shoved into users’ faces.

In Asia, there is no reliance on ads to monetize. But lets remember that this is not the case with Whatsapp, which has always been ad free.

Who Is Worth More

We’re pretty sure that Mark Zuckerberg is incredibly smart, so it’s pretty obvious why he was glad to fork 10% of Facebook paying $19 billion for WhatsApp.

But will they be able to survive without in-app purchases? There is a trove of possible profit but at the same time, introducing paid features may drive users away. We think that WhatsApp will continue to be worth more if Line is unable to become more transparent about its active users and profit.

The post is written by Ilan Nass, a regular contributor to Dazeinfo. He is a tech enthusiast, who like to profile tech companies. He is an editor at Fueled – an iPhone and Android app development company based out of Chicago.

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Apple Inc. (AAPL) Till 2015: The Email Exposes Steve Jobs’s Secret Plan !

By
Dazeinfo
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1

The visionary Co-Founder and former CEO of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Steve Jobs has always known for his avant-garde style of thinking and execution. He had always believed in that reasons only matter at the level of Janitor, who empties thrash beans for living, but somewhere between Janitor and the CEO, reasons stop mattering. With such thought process Steve Jobs processed many tasks that, eventually, helped Apple to scale up to become the most valuable brand of 2014.

Apple Steve Jobs Secret Email

During his tenure at Apple Steve Jobs ensured that best-of-breed should stay in constant touch with him, no matter how good or bad was each one of them on personal level. In October 2010, Phil Schiller – worked in the formation and marketing of iMac, iBook, Powerbook G4, iPad, Mac OS X and subsequent products – received an email from Steve Jobs with a subject line “Top 100 –A”. The email contained a detail itinerary of a top-secret meeting to be held in early 2011.

This meeting – called the Top 100 – was different than series of regular weekly meetings that Steve Jobs used to host at Apple. Top 100 is a big deal for Apple as well as Steve Jobs. It is a group of people that most certainly had met with Steve Jobs, who used to ensure meeting wth these people every year by hosting this Top Secret meeting with Top Secret Agenda in a Top Secret style of arrangements. Only two things were certain, good food and no golf course.

In August 2011, Adam Lashinsky, then Sr. Editor of Fortune, wrote a post “How Apple Works“. At the mid of the post, he also attended what Top 100 is and how the meeting works. In brief, The Top 100 meeting was a vital supervisory instrument for Steve Jobs. He and his chief lieutenants used it to inform a supremely influential group about where Apple is headed. Steve Jobs used to consider the meeting as an opportunity to share his splendid vision with Apple’s next generation of leaders. A part strategic offsite, part legacy-building exercise used to be the main agenda of Top 100 meeting.

Due to highest level of secrecy, no one was ever allowed to utter a single word about the schedule or content of Top 100 meeting. However, Steve Job’s last email proposing Top 100 meeting is out in pubic domain due to on-going lawsuit between Apple and Samsung.

Considering 2011 was the last year for Steve Jobs in Apple, the email becomes more valuable and mesmerizing historical document.

You can click on highlighted text in below email to learn more about particular annotation.

 

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Top 4 Key Trends 2014: How (Much) Does Technology Matter To Leaders?

By
M Chandran
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0

In today‘s market, the rate at which technology is changing is amazing and to keep up with this leaders have to fast pace their activities. Since the change is too fast even the CIO of the organization finds it difficult to stay abreast.

Technology is changing and growing too fast for even the CIO of an organization to keep up with, let alone the CEO. Decisions like company direction, areas of business growth and new technology to incorporate ultimately falls in the hands of the CEO. At a point of time, information technology was so expensive and so difficult to manage that companies could make large amounts of money simply by being able to make systems work. (Think I.B.M.)

Key Tech Trend To Lookout In 2014 - No.1

Managing Information technology effectively used to be a big competitive advantage to companies. But over the years, since it has become more manageable and cheaper, this advantage takes a back burner. Factors like hiring knowledgeable employees and tools to manage the technology has become easier and more powerful than it used to be a few years ago. Nowadays anybody can set up a Web server, or an accounting system, or an inventory management system.

When a technology is so complex that the only way to make things work is to copy what you already have in place and that acts as a competitive advantage. And since only the incumbent have something to copy that would makes it difficult for new companies to enter the industry. And if one of them gains some temporary competitive advantage by building an inventory management system, the others will soon follow. That doesn’t really make it foolproof!

It is not information technology itself that matters, but how you use it.

When information technology is turned into a ‘commodity’, it no longer serves as a source of unique competitive advantage, and then we still face a critical question of advantage. Standardization and commoditization of a technology don’t always mean that innovation stops. Once products become commodities, they can serve as components for further innovation. In the 19th century the real innovations came after the basic building blocks were commoditized.

Key Tech Trend To Lookout In 2014 - No.2

Then maybe we can look at information technology as those standardized parts. Desktop PC’s, Web servers, databases and scripting languages have become components in larger, more complex systems. As these components have become more standardized, the opportunities to create innovations have multiplied.

Do such innovations offer “sustainable competitive advantage”?

The answer is maybe, maybe not. Truly sustainable competitive advantage is a high hurdle. Doing something better and cheaper than the competition is always valuable, even if the competitive advantage is only temporary.

Key Tech Trend To Lookout In 2014 - No.3

No matter what, leaders cannot afford to ignore information technology, or relegate it to the back burner. A study shows that 53% of ERP projects still run over budget, 61% take longer to complete than anticipated, and more than 27% fail to produce the positive ROI expected. Such IT-related problems aren’t just rooted in technology but more in leadership failings. The people implementing don’t understand such IT problems. As a result they don’t provide adequate resources to solve them, and don’t approach the issues as members of unified technology-literate teams.

Key Tech Trend To Lookout In 2014 - No.4

The functionality of computing undergoes constant, dramatic increases, and as it does so, it opens huge new opportunities and leaves the company vulnerable in unexpected ways. While technology can’t give you a permanent competitive advantage, timely deployment of new IT products, processes, and systems can enable you to build a strong competitive position.

Corporations’ technology strategies will remain ineffective until leaders acknowledge that, now as always, IT does matter.

For details list of Top 8 key Trends to look out in 2014, you can visit Vovox.

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Apple Inc (AAPL) iPhone 5S Remains Best Selling Phone In 2014, But New Threats Ahead !

By
Vasanth R
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1

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone 5S has been the best-selling phone in the world for the past 6 months. The iPhone 5C leapfrogged to second place in February, according to latest data from Counterpoint research. Discounts offered on both products in Western markets, have been to Apple’s benefit. Apple’s decision to discontinue iPhone 5 allowed iPhone 4S secure 5th position. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (KRX:005935) Galaxy S4 and Note 3 were tied for third place, respectively. While sales of Galaxy S4 are still in large volumes despite of the launch of successor Galaxy S5, Note 3 is a massive hit in Asia, thanks to its large, high quality display. The list, however, comes as a disappointment to brands like LG Electronics Inc. (KRX:066570) and Sony Corp (ADR)(NYSE:SNE) that has managed to grab only single spot and, that too, beyond the top 10 positions. In the feature phone market, Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) 105, 108 and 208 models remain at the top but none of its Smartphones could make to top 20 list. The surprise element in the list comes in the form of Chinese smartphone vendor Xiaomi. Two of its devices, the Hongmi Redrice and Mi3 feature at 7th and 10th place, respectively.

Counterpoint monthly pulse report receives it sales data from surveys of retailers and distributors across 33 countries.

Smartphone sales as of February 2014

Xiaomi learning from Google and Apple

In 2013 Xiaomi sold 18.7 million handsets, almost double than what it sold in 2012. The target for this year is estimated to reach 60 million devices. Currently, Xiaomi’s handsets are available only in China but the company have plans to go global within next two years. Launched in 2010, the company has emerged as China’s fifth largest smartphone brand, offering high-end Android devices at lower price with similar specification what industry leaders offer.

Mi3 is the latest high-end model offered by Xiaomi at a price of US$330 in China. It supports the latest version of Android, and like leading Android devices, runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processor. Xiaomi’s success can be attributed to cues taken from both Apple and Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL). Interestingly, its operating platform is downloadable to computers worldwide, allowing customers to experience the interface without owning a phone. The company has apparently mastered the art of brand buzz from Apple by giving its fans and users a direct input features running on top of Google’s OS. In addition to this, company offers a weekly update to its software for free. The design and controls of the software that runs on the phone create a flawless end-to-end experience, placing usability on the pedestal. In China, Xiaomi controls 18.9% of the smartphone market and company is eyeing a bigger pie of local market by introducing more variants of Mi3 and similar smartphones in near future. According to AsiaOne news, the stocks for Mi3 phones were sold out within two minutes in Singapore! With such high sales, Xiaomi is changing the nature of the industry.

xiamo-mi3

HTC, LG, Sony Failing to Emerge from Samsung’s Shadow

There are five Galaxy S devices on the list, clearly showcasing Samsung’s popularity. The Galaxy S4 and S3 are among the best selling Android phones. Samsung advertising strength gives it an enormous advantage over rivals, the company reportedly spent US$13 billion on advertising alone in 2013. Its latest launch, the Galaxy S5, will intensify the battle in the top 10 smartphone race. Korean rival LG recently launched its flagship phone G2, and emerged the third largest smartphone vendor in America in terms of sales. Japanese corporation Sony has also failed to make a mark globally with its Xperia range of phones. Android saturation could force these vendors to switch to Windows Phone OS to get a boost in their sales. HTC Corp (TPE:2498) is another top vendor unable to emerge from Samsung’s shadow. Despite of having few top rated devices sales of HTC One (M7) were dismal for the company, costing US$101 million loss in Q3 2013. The delayed release of HTC One killed the buzz before it even started. Its newest flagship phone, the HTC One (M8) is already floundering, a week after its release.

The Indian Scenario

Sony has overtaken Apple to emerge the second largest smartphone brand in India. The farther one has found rare success in the Indian smartphone market by focussing on the Rs. 10,000-20,000 smartphone space, backed by marketing expenditure of Rs 300 crore. Data from IDC reveals that Sony had a 9.1% value share in the Indian smartphone market in Q4, ended on December 31 2013, against Apple’s 7% share. Samsung still dominates India market with 43% value share. Sales of Sony Xperia M Dual and Xperia C were the top-selling models in the mid-range price bracket. iPhone 4, withdrawn earlier and later re-released in January 2014, remains the largest selling model for Apple in India. Sony grabbed the top spot in the mid range segment, due to Apples absence in this segment.

Sony overtakes Apple

Samsung is also being squeezed in India as local brands begin to dominate the low-end Smartphone market. Between January and March this year, Sony’s smartphone market share could slide down due to the release of Nokia X series and new range of Micromax Canvas phones. India remains one of the few markets where Sony has been successful. Sony’s experience highlights how a company can emerge to compete in an emerging market by focussed advertising and right price range.

In March and April, the new Galaxy S5 will be more widely available and iPhone 5C discounts are likely to cease. Good performances from Moto G and just launched Gionee models are bound to create volatility in the best sellers list. Apple may enjoy its top spot for now, but its competitors are growing and adapting to survive in emerging markets.

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1 Billion Android-Powered Devices In 2014: One Out Of Every Two Devices Will Run On Android By 2015 [REPORT]

By
Vasanth R
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0

In 2015, one out of every two devices shipped worldwide will be an Android device. According to research firm Gartner, 2.5 billion devices (PCs, tablets, ultra mobiles and mobile phones) will be shipped in 2014, accumulating the growth rate of 6.9%. Interestingly, both traditional PCs and Tablets will feature almost identical shipments in 2014, however, tablet shipments will surpass traditional PCs for the first time in 2015. Shipments of devices running on Android OS are projected to cross 1 billion mark during 2014.

PCs Evolving Into Tablets And Ultramobiles

Traditional PCs are undoubtedly facing decline, but not as quickly as during earlier years. This slow down can be attributed to the bottoming out of the shift from traditional desktop to tablets. In other words, users are increasingly becoming more comfortable about devices which they feel are genuinely useful to them. Consumers will rationalize or increase their portfolio of devices and try to work out what they require from each device. This explains the 76%  growth forecast for ultramobile devices in 2014. As compared to 21.1 million units in 2013, an estimated 37.2 million units of Hybrid and clamshell ultramobile devices will be sold  in 2014.

Gartner’s forecast pegs the tablet market to grow 38.6% as overall adoption continues to grow in markets other than North America. Tablets have been a powerhouse of growth in recent years, and a shift from iOS tablets to low-price Android tablets is a key factor contributing to growth. Increased market saturation will bring down the cost of these devices. Price remains the key factor, but new users will look for smaller screens and greater portability, while current tablet users will demand better connectivity in their tablet replacements.

Mobile phones are the largest segment of the overall device market. An estimated 1.9 billion devices will be shipped in 2014, a 4.9% increase from 2013. Gartner predicts the growth to come from the lower end of the premium phone market and the higher end of the basic phone market. This presents an enormous opportunity for upper-mid range of smartphones price tagged with between $550 and $650 and entry-level smartphones falling under $120 – $200 price range. Replacement cycles declined in 2013 due to lack of compelling hardware innovation. However, in emerging markets including Asia-pacific and Latin America, phones are continuously being upgraded, compensating for a maturing of the mobile phone market.

No Stopping  The Growth Of Android

An estimated 1.17 billion devices, to be shipped in 2014, will run on Android OS. Shipments of Android products will increase by 33% in 2014. Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) owned Android continues to be benefited in a market where device margins are shrinking. This also depicts that Android shipment growth rate will slow down in 2015. This implies that Android OS will apparently hit saturation point in all the device categories mentioned. Hence the aggressive expansion into wearables, smart TVs, Notebooks and even Cars, are a bet on the company’s long term future.

worldwide device shipments by OS 2014 - 2015

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is estimated to ship 286.4 million devices in 2014 through its iOS and Mac OS powered devices. As per the report, shipments of Apple products will grow at a rate of 18% in 2014, followed by 13% in 2015. This decline is bound to hurt its long-term prospects. Already, sales of iPads are on a decline in North America and to increase iPad growth, Apple will need to reinvigorate its replacement cycle. Currently, the Cupertino giant has dropped the prices of its flagship phone models, iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C by US$100 to tap the mid range smartphone market. Rumours are also surfacing of plans to release a large screen iPhone, purported as iPhone 6. Besides, Apple also has an opportunity to enter the wearables market and target niche categories such as fitness.

Shipments of Windows OS products are estimated to reach 339.1 million this year. This represents only a modest 4.3% increase from last year. The projections also depict that Windows is on track to increase growth to 11.8%  throughout 2015. The decline of traditional computing devices will force Windows OS to adapt to tablets and Smartphones. Recently Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has announced to offer its OS for free to all smartphone and tablet vendors, extended its key services and has added a voice assistant named Cortana.

Manufacturers are likely to consider a mix of Android and Windows devices in their portfolio. The device market looks set to reach the saturation point with the growth rate of device shipments declining to 5.9% in 2015. If this prediction proves to be correct, this might be the year where device growth peaks to its limits. All tech companies, hardware and software alike will be looking to expand into new territories.

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Did Google Inc. (GOOG) Play The Clever Fox By Selling Motorola To Lenovo?

By
Asif Iqbal Shaik
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After pulling out of some markets around the world, no one thought that Motorola would see any kind of growth, even after its mobile handsets business was acquired by Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG). That’s because almost everyone was pretty sure that patents related to smartphone and mobile were the biggest reason of the acquisition. Google then did what everyone expected earlier, it sold Motorola to Lenovo Group Limited (ADR) (OTCMKTS:LNVGY) – a top Chinese smartphone brand – for US$2.91 billion. But right before that, Motorola released 2 gem of smartphones; Moto X and the Moto G. As per latest reports, Moto G was one of the best selling smartphones of recent past in India. They’ve launched the Moto X as well, again, exclusively with Flipkart. With such great launches, many are hoping for a possible turn around of Motorola. And, this provides food for thought: Has Google made a wise decision by selling Motorola to Lenovo?

Google Motorla Lenovo Deal

Unhappy ODMs Would Be Android’s Biggest Issue

There are two ways to look at what Google may have done with Motorola and what impact would’ve done to the Android smartphone ecosystem. As we all know, Android has a fragmentation problem. ODMs (Original Device Manufacturers) customise Android so much that a normal consumer couldn’t discern a version of Android with other purely based on design or features. One way of Google using Motorola would have been to release more value for money smartphones like Moto G which would teach ODMs like Samsung Group (KRX:005930) and LG Electronics Inc. (KRX:066570) to release better phones at similar prices and force them to spend more time on software optimisation than software customisation. Forcing ODMs through Motorola would’ve been dangerous to Google. In that case, unhappy ODMs would have drifted towards other platforms such as Windows Phone and Tizen OS. Besides, Google would be eligible to own 5.94% stake in Lenovo by nesting $750 million, which came as a part of the deal.

But Google has chosen the second path. The company could have used the best part of Motorola to defend Android ODMs; Patents. Google has always been known as an internet services company and focussed on software more than hardware. Sure, they are experimenting with Chromecast, Google Glass and Nest Thermostat but these efforts are more oriented towards experimentation and not pure business. According to NextMarket Insights, smartwatch category is supposed to expand to nearly 400 million shipments by 2020.

As Ben Thompson explains, it would be an unwise decision for any big company, be it Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Google or Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) play on both fronts; hardware and software. Apple has made almost all of its software free and focussed on earning through hardware alone. Even Microsoft has declared to make its Windows Phone OS free for smartphones and compact tablets. Unconfirmed reports also state that Google is planning to drop the Nexus line-up in its entirety in favour of Google Play Edition devices and Android Silver. Android Silver is a plan from Google to award Android Silver certification to selected devices from ODMs which would be flaunting latest OS with little to no software customisation, fast OS updates and 24×7 video chat support.

Google Played Clever Fox

Motorola’s best tidbit has been retained at Google – Project Ara. If you are still not aware about Project Ara, it is a concept which allows your to customise a smartphone’s hardware according to your personal preferences. Google understood that the smartphone business is already too crowded and the next great battle would be fought in the wearable devices category, the reason why Google announced a special version of Android for wearables, before anyone else. As per Horace Dediu’s rain maker strategy, Google is finding more ways for people to connect with Google services be it via wearables or via Android for automobiles.

Future Of Motorola Under Lenovo Is Still Uncertain

Lenovo Motorla Smartphone market

Lenovo sees Motorola as its entry in the U.S. market where it has little to no visibility. By acquiring Motorola, Lenovo became the third largest movie device vendor overnight – trailing behind Samsung and Apple. With all said and done, there are still no official words from Lenovo about how it is planning to take Motorola forward. Will it have any effect of Motorola’s product strategy? No one is sure enough to comment on that. But the best way would be to treat Motorola as an independent company. It looks like the centre of focus in the smartphones business would be the mid-range category. Almost all the best selling smartphones are from the entry-level to mid-range ones. Motorola has a good grip on the mid-range smartphone market with the Moto G and Lenovo should strengthen this strategy to make use of its acquisition of Motorola. Moto 360 smartwatch if launched at an attractive price would be another great product for Lenovo to enter the smartphone race.

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Facebook Inc. (FB) Leads In App Usage As 86% Of U.S. Users Spend Time On Apps [Report]

By
Vasanth R
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Six years after Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) released the iPhone and ushered in the mobile revolution, apps have solidified their authority, leaving websites far behind. Flurry, a mobile analytic firm, tracked 450,000 apps on 1.3 billion devices between January and March 2014 in the U.S.. By comparing  the latest report with last year’s findings, it seems quite clear that the mobile web will shift to web-based applications. In 2014, users spent 2 hours 19 minutes a day or 86% of their time browsing mobile apps, and have increased their mobile usage time to 2 hours and 42 minutes. Mobile browser usage consumed 14% of time spent on devices or just 22 minutes a day. During the same period last year, 20% of time spent was on mobile browsers. The report is an insight of  how data hungry users  are ushering in the app revolution. In the U.S. mobile data consumption increased from 5.5 GB to 6.6 GB, where Apple is leading with a 42% share in Smartphone OEM. The mobile browser, once central to mobile devices, has been reduced to a single application in a vast galaxy of apps.

TTime spent on mobile apps

How Do Users Spend Their Time?

The amount of time spent on apps has grown by 12 minutes or 9.5% from 2013. According to Flurry, this is a modest increase compared to the previous five years, signalling a leveling off in terms of time users spend on their apps. Gaming is the most favored application on both Android and iOS devices. In both this year and the last, 32% of time spent was on games. Handheld devices are preferred for gaming, due to a combination of good device features and high console costs.

Category-wise, Social and messaging apps are growing quickly. Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) and social apps accounted for 24% of all time spent last year. In 2014, Facebook and Twitter Inc. (NYSE:TWTR), combined, took 18.5% of user time while social messaging grabbed 9.5% of the time. Facebook has the maximum share of time spent in the U.S. as the social media giant will be looking to dominate through its social media apps including Instagram and the recently acquired WhatsApp.

The graph also shows how usage of Apple’s Safari browser has gone down in the past one year.

Time spent on devices in 2014

Entertainment and productivity apps remain steady at 8%. Browsing videos on YouTube took 4% of users time. Larger screen devices and increased 4G and 3G penetration will increase the number of users watching videos on their devices. You tube alone, accounts for 50% of the entertainment category.  Utility apps have also increased by 4% as users increasingly use their devices for more specific tasks. These apps are used for optimizing devices and to make full use of all hardware features.

Google And Facebook: The Mobile Franchise Giants

The two tech giants have expanded to the mobile domain through several acquisitions, but the market remains fragmented. Google and Facebook, combined, account for less than 25% of time spent on mobile devices. According to ComScore, the top 10 franchises account for less than 40% of time usage. New franchises continue to emerge and disrupt the market. Apps like Pintrest, Snapchat, Whatsapp (acquired by Facebook), and Waze (acquired by Google) command 1% or 2% of user time. In almost every segment, new opportunities are emerging for all franchises. More acquisitions and new apps will disrupt the app market in coming years.

Google Is The King of Ad Revenue

Revenue brought in through advertising follows the time-spent distribution. Facebook fits squarely in this category, with equal time-spent and advertising revenue at 18%. Google is an advertising giant earning 50% of all mobile revenues. Contributing factors are: its mobile search (and search ad dominance), a solid mobile display ad position, and Android’s dominant position in most international markets. The time spent on Google applications, including YouTube and browsers, stands at just 18%.

The other apps command 63% of time spent of time spent but only receive 32% of ad revenues. Gaming apps and applications have enormous potential to monetize through advertising. E-marketer estimates the mobile market will grow by 75% this year, a tremendous upsurge from previous years. It is also projected that in-app revenues will surpass web display ads by 2017.Ad spent vs time usage

Future Of  The Web

Sales of smartphones and tablets are already exceeding desktop and netbook sales. The World Wide Web will evolve to face the shifting landscape of smartphones and tablets. Websites will resemble and behave more like apps. User experience will take center stage leaving SEO behind. The trend of mobile first and web second will bring both mobile app and user experience design to the mobile web. Every company in the world, including Google will need to  adjust to the latest disruption.

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Google Inc. (GOOG) To Offer Best Of Android And Customer Care Through ‘Android Silver’ Project?

By
Vasanth R
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0

Buyers of Android powered handsets typically experience several pitfalls about the system and software. Users have reported varying experiences with the post purchase support and software on their handsets. Critics have relentlessly lampooned Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) owned Android for its unity and consistency, compared to the iOS experience, where Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) controls all. Google may finally be plotting to re-establish the Android brand through a rumored project. Dubbed as Android Silver, the project will reportedly offer premium Android sale and support experience, among other things. The rumor come from an Android police report, and Google is reportedly considering the project seriously enough, that it was allegedly being shown to other Google employees in December last year.

Google Android Silver Project

Android Silver Project: A Premium Android OS

It appears to be an attempt to unify the sales and support experience of exclusively selected Android devices. Theses devices will be picked by Google at its sole discretion. Phones in this alleged program run the latest version of Android software and feature limited or no customization, if any. Only 5 such handsets will be selected by Google for silver status at any give time.

Google would not be selling the devices, at least not exclusively. Instead the program will focus on carrier stores. These stores will be required to help Android silver customers set up their devices with a Google account, facilitate data migration from old devices, and help customers complete their first Google Play store purchase.

Users, who sign up for this program, will get access to a 24 X 7 live hangouts support from Google specialists, who will solve any problems on your device. Also, there are rumors of a Never Lost feature that would help Android Silver users to track and wipe their device. Beyond that, the suggested feature would help users navigate back to their lost device and remotely back up data. There is also a reference to a temporary loaner phone program, presumably meaning Google (or the OEM/carrier) will offer an Android phone for a limited time period, till the old one can be found or replaced. The below screen shots, allegedly shown to Googlers, spill more beans on the rumored Android Silver program.

Android Silver Slide

slide 3Android police reports that the slides were made at the end of last year and mentions that it does not know the current status of the program, or whether it is still in development.

Fight Against Android Fragmentation

If the rumors are confirmed, then this will definitely be one of Google’s most ambitious programs with Android. Google will obviously require the support of many device manufacturers and major carriers to make it happen. The company’s efforts to fight against fragmentation of its OS will receive a major boost through this program. Google urges Smartphone vendors to load their Smartphones with the latest version of Android, instead of serving customers outdated and obsolete versions of the mobile OS. For this reason developers struggle to make high quality apps for Android that can consistently perform well across the older and newer OS versions.

Will We See More Nexus devices?

It would also mark a major change in the way that Android phones are sold. This would also give a robust support network to major Android phones that can’t be afforded by individual manufacturers without working together. More importantly it would allow Google to feature Android more prominently. A recent move by the search giant required all manufacturers that included its services like Gmail and Google Maps on a device to prominently display the powered by Android emblem. Nexus phones are currently preferred by users for its clean users interface of Stock Android. Having five such devices, similar to Nexus in the market, will ensure the stock Android OS takes center stage. This will transform Android into a product that customers would specifically be interested in.

However, there is no solid proof for this program and all the above information should be taken with a pinch of salt.

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Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Windows 8.1 OS: Should Your Business Upgrade To It ?

By
Aarzu Khan
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0

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has finally unveiled Windows 8.1 OS and Windows Phone 8.1 OS today at Build 2014 conference. While Windows 8 OS will be available for free to all existing Windows 8 users from April 8 via Windows Update, Windows Phone 8.1 would be arriving in new smartphones by April end or early May this year. The roll out of Windows Phone 8.1 to existing compatible phones would be triggered only in next couple of months.

Microsoft Windows 8.1 OS

Windows has been the prevalent operating system for businesses now for almost as long as anyone can remember. This is not only because Windows OS is available on the widest range of computers, but also because it’s well designed for multitasking and productivity and offers the best software support for the most commonly used office applications (such as Word and Excel). While several media companies have lately turned to Mac, the majority of organisations are still using Windows and opting for anything else is only likely to cause compatibility issues.

But that still leaves you with the choice of which Window’s version you use, which is an issue that will be on the minds of many companies right now following the recent launch of Windows 8.1 OS. Is upgrading to Windows 8.1 worth it for companies already on Windows 8 OS? And for those who elected to skip on Windows 8 and are still using Windows 7, is now the time to take the leap?

Windows 8.1: Its’ Different

To answer that question, let’s first of all look at how Windows 8.1 is different from its predecessors. Like Windows 8, 8.1 offers a kind of compromise solution for devices that want to double up as both tablets and PCs. To this end it has two environments for working in: the desktop mode, and a ‘Metro’ UI that runs full screen apps as in Android or iOS. The desktop mode for the most part works like it always has, and this is where business users will spend most of their time. If you have invested in slates though, then various improvements to the tablet-style interface will make this more enjoyable such as extra customisation for your Start Menu, and the option to run more than one app at once. And you get a ton of free apps too, some of which might actually prove useful or at the very least fun for your staff (which doesn’t hurt!).

Boon For Business

If you’re just going to be running desktop apps then, Windows 8.1 is essentially the same as Windows 8 – which is essentially the same as 7. Where it’s different is in the speed, the performance and the size of the package, all of which have been improved and streamlined to provide an all-round upgrade that any business should look into. If you upgrade to Windows 8.1 now, then your machine will boot faster, you’ll have more free hard drive space, you’ll get more battery life out of laptops and you’ll find it handles demanding tasks and multitasking more easily.

Work Flow…

To accommodate this new metro mode and the Start Screen that serves as its basis, Microsoft have opted to get rid of the Start Menu. This is something that irked many users who were accustomed to finding everything they needed in the bottom left of their screen, and who didn’t want to have to switch into a completely different UI in order to access things.

If you were among this camp, then you should find that 8.1 is a step in the right direction as long as you’re willing to try something new. For one, the Start button is back (though not the menu) meaning you can more quickly switch to the Start screen and select apps. Additionally you now have the option to boot straight to the Desktop if you would rather the Metro mode didn’t exist at all, while the incredibly powerful search function will allow you to find and launch apps not pinned to your taskbar more quickly than ever. This was already a very useful feature in Windows 8 (and the way that critics should have been using the system), but in 8.1 it’s one of the most powerful and intuitive search systems available. Nothing is ever more than a couple of keystrokes away which means 8.1 should improve, not hinder, your workflow.

The Big Question: Should You Bite?

So with all that in mind, is it worth upgrading to Windows 8.1? To put it simply: YES. If you’re still on Windows 7 and weren’t won over by Windows 8, then 8.1 should offer enough of an improvement to be worthwhile while also dealing with some common criticisms of its predecessor. For those who are still hanging with Windows XP, this could probably be the end of road for you. Microsoft had already announced the April 8 as the end of Life for Window XP. So it would be better to migrate directly to Windows 8.1, unless you are not considering Xubuntu OS. If you’re on Windows 8 and are considering upgrading to 8.1, then the process will be completely free while also being much quicker and simpler (no need to reinstall everything). In that scenario there’s really no reason not to make the jump and start getting the most out of your systems.

In fact there’s only one reason to avoid installing Windows 8.1, which is that you might prefer to upgrade your hardware too. Windows 8.1 works brilliantly on any machine, but it truly shines when on a touchscreen. Upgrade your workforce to slate computers running 8.1 and they will truly be a force to be reckoned with…

Author Bio:

Greg Fisher, started Berkeley Sourcing Group eight years ago after realizing the need for efficient processes and coordination between manufacturing firms located in the United States and factories in China. He has a strong manufacturing and engineering background, and is proficient in Mandarin.

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Internet Around The World: 25% People Access Internet Through Mobile Devices!

By
Vasanth R
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0

The Smartphone revolution has allowed internet usage to grow by leaps and bounds in just a few years. In 2013, there were more mobile devices than humans on the planet. The worldwide distribution of internet varies for different regions all over the world. Increased mobile device penetration in the next few years will ensure that almost every human being has internet access. At present, 25% of the world is on mobile broadband, thanks to emergence and explosive adoption of low-price mobile devices. Smartphones are the new data monsters, consuming 92% of global data, even though they represent only 18% of mobile handsets. This is also leading to an explosion of online content,with the amount being 9 times larger than it was 5 years ago.

Mobile Internet and smartphone Contribution 2014

The below infographic illustrates the global reach of the internet, where it is currently the fastest, and the behavior of internet users. Here are few key highlights:

  • About 40% of the world’s households are online through fixed broadband.The developing world is lagging behind the developed world in terms of internet access. Only 28 people per 100 in the developing world have access to internet.
  • South Korea has the world’s fastest internet followed by Japan. The U.S actually lags behind several countries in this category,while Iran and Bhutan have the least internet speeds. The infographic depicts China as having fast internet speeds but our latest report says otherwise.
  • The Asia-Pacific region has the world’s largest share of mobile subscriptions. The Americas are second at 22.2%.
  • The average phone user checks his phone 23 times a day for messaging and 22 times for voice calls.
  • Europe has 10 internet connected devices per household, while America has 5.7 devices. Two-thirds of these devices are Smartphones and tablets.
  • In North America, an average visitor spends 107 minutes per day on the internet. Asia-Pacific has the largest number of online gamers at 47.9 million.
  • One in four internet users performs banking transactions online.
  • Canadians watch more video than any other country, with an average of 303 video views every month.
  • Google is the top website in India, U.S and most of Europe. Interestingly, Facebook is more popular in South America and South East Asia.

The number of connected devices will grow to possibly 40 billion by 2020. There will be 10 connected devices for every man, woman and child on the planet. This increase in connections between all objects is called the Internet of Things or IoT. This new wave of device overload will ensure every human being is on the internet by the end of the decade.

internet consumption around the world

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Apple Inc. (AAPL) 5.5 Inch Screen iPhone 6 Could Be A Game Changer: Rumors Claims 5.7-Inch iPhone 6C

By
Vasanth R
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0

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) looks set to release iPhone 6 with a 4.7 inch screen in September this year. Mass production for the iPhone displays will reportedly begin by May, however, giant 5.5-inch or 5.7-inch iPhone will feature a delayed release, according to Reuters. The three companies, making the displays of iPhone 6, are Japan Display Inc, Sharp Corp and South Korea’s LG display co ltd. The screens of both the variants of iPhone 6 will be larger than the 4.0 inch panels of Apple’s existing iPhone 5s and 5C models. The tech giant’s fiercest rival Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (KRX:005935) stole a third of all customers, who upgraded their phones due to fascination towards bigger screen. Share value of Apple has languished below US$600 since November 2012, due to worries about Smartphone market saturation and a lack of innovative technology in its flagship products. A bigger screen iPhone will keep it on par with other top flagship phablets running on Android OS.

Apple iPhone 6 Leaked Image

A report released last week from Japanese business newspaper Nikkei claims that iPhone 6 would be launched in two screen variants as early as September this year. However, the recent report from Reuters contradicts the claim by stating that only 4.7 inch screen iPhone 6 would be launched this fall while the release date of giant screen size Apple iPhone 6 is still unclear. Interestingly, the debate on iPhone 6 screen size is apparently far from over yet. Another Japanese magazine MacFan published an alleged drawing of 5.7 inch screen size phablet, purported as iPhone 6C. The drawing features flat, bezel-free device with rectangular shaped volume controls like those found in current iPhone 5C.

iPhone 6C with 5.7-inch Screen

Apple has a history of working on multiple variants of iPhone simultaneously, but only the best one makes up to the market eventually. Besides, all recent leaked images and blue print of iPhone purport 4.7 inch screen display and not many sources are able to get hold of any information about 5.5 inch iPhone 6. Does that mean 5.5 inch iPhone 6 is just a another speculation, which may never come into existence ? Not really, a company like Apple can’t afford to miss such an enormous opportunity specially when the size of opportunity windows is big enough and clearly visible.

Phablets To Control 25% of Smartphone Sales In 2014

Users usually drift towards large screen mobiles to make tasks, like browsing the web, streaming content, and gaming, more enjoyable. Despite their bulk and large size, the market for phablets devices is growing at a phenomenal rate. By taking the early introduction advantage of the first phablets device, Samsung  grabbed the market with its Galaxy Note series. Other players including Sony, HTC and Nokia have already released products in the market to grab a sizeable share. According to Juniper research at least 20 million phablets devices were shipped in 2013 and the market is estimated to hit 120 million devices by 2018.

The report also predicts that big screen devices will find more takers in countries like South Korea and China. The demand for phablets is already high in countries like India, Brazil, and Russia. Samsung sold 10 million units of the original 5.3 inch Galaxy Note. Its successor the Galaxy Note 2, had a 5.5 inch screen which sold 30 million units. The Note 3 with a 5.7 inch screen sold more than 5 million units within a month of launch. The allure of a single device that can act with similar functionality to both smartphone and tablet has more appeal in regions where the disposable income is lower.

Another interesting finding from Delloite estimates that by considering 5 inch to 6.9 inch devices as phablets, shipments of phablets will represent 25% of all Smartphones sold in 2014. This works out to roughly 300 million units, almost twice the amount sold last year and 10 times the amount sold in 2012. The revenue works to about $ 125 Billion, with a $415 average selling price, which is 10% higher than for Smartphones as a whole. At least 2/3 of all phablets sold in 2013 will be 5.1 inches. Only less than 10% are likely to be 6 inches or larger. This clearly portrays that Phablet is going to play a bigger role in 2015 and 2016 when smartphone users would be looking beyond 5-inc screen.

Phablets are seen as leading choices for those who can’t afford a gaming device in South Korea.The demand for big screen devices will perhaps be consumer driven, as it resembles an all in one device that combines the features of a smartphone, portable gaming device and tablet and PC. The biggest appeal for the tablet lies in the Asian market where languages such as Arabic, Hindi, Chinese and Korea are too complex for a small screen. Texting may be easier on the large screens and larger virtual keyboards of phablets.

Will A Large Screen iPhone Cement Apple’s Dominance?

If the iPhone 6 is indeed a 4.7 inch smartphone, than Apple will have plenty of catching up to do with its competitors. The 90 million iPhone units, being produced by Foxconn, signals the company’s intention to kick off iPhone sales as soon as possible. A smaller iPhone with 4.7 inch screen will placate its most die-hard fans while a large 5.5 inch screen tablet will give tough competition to any Android phablet. A large screen iPhone could bring back customers who previously abandoned it simply for its small screen, the larger screen iPhone Phablet would help Apple to place in the market where not many of players are exercising – at least for now. Whatever Apple decides to do with its flagship product, it needs to act fast, as competitors and shareholders alike, are increasing pressure on the company.

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