Last week RCR spent some time in Singapore, sniffing around the expo center for wireless whisperings and network news. We weren’t disappointed.
Below is a quick cheat sheet of the highlights, for those who may have missed them:
Mobile should be seen AND heard, was the near consensus at the show, with many firms plugging video as the best thing since sliced bread. Some, not content with normal video were even taking things a step further with the likes of SinGtel and Ericsson pushing 3D video offerings.
Meanwhile, the MEF laid out mobile trends for 2010 citing demand for multiplatform delivery, more data heavy services, micro-payments for content, operator enabled services and rather a lot more.
We got some insight into emerging market app stores and the suggestion that apps should also make their way into non-smartphones too.
We also saw Yahoo and Alcatel jointly unveil a phone and app bundle, quickly dubbed the “Y-Phone” by the blogosphere. RCR was lucky enough to get a hands on look at the Y-Phone and posted a video of the device too.
There was some interesting talk about the future of mobile voice from Bryan Davies, director of marketing at Alcatel Lucent, positing that voice was actually the ultimate “killer app,” the only problem being it was still running on tech invented over 20 years ago, when much better technology was now available. VoIP would revolutionize the space according to Davies.
ZTE was also flaunting its achievements at CommunicAsia, with the firm announcing not only had it leapfrogged rival Alcatel Lucent to become the world’s number two fixed broadband infrastructure provider, but had also just won a lucrative passive optical network (PON) equipment deal with China Telekom and will partner with Telekom Malaysia.
With World cup fever running high, many firms were also predicting the summer of 2010 to be a big one for mobile TV, but others talked of a bumpy road ahead for mobile broadcasting, which wouldn’t spread until the technology could handle it.
In terms of devices, there were certainly some special handsets on display, including a mobile lifesaver in the form of Ephone’s EPI Life phone, Altek’s amazing 14 megapixel camera phone, NTT DoCoMo’s Touch Wood eco offerings and more.
But what good is a handset if the mobile internet is not personalized, intelligent and profitable, asked Amdocs’ director for market development and strategy, Michael Breen, positing that firms needed to invest a lot more effort into getting to know their mobile end user customers.
RCR also discovered a whole host of mobile devices and apps which could enhance your life and make things easier, including an augmented reality golfing app, an e-reader which handles formats including Microsoft Word and PDF, a nifty little gadget by A*Star for making home networking a breeze, a multi-platform app compiler, a VoIP service for the iPad, and more.
A fascinating panel boasting representatives from Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and Motricity saw the big boys weigh in on the mobile internet.
Japan’s NTT DoCoMo wowed us with its separable phone which literally sets itself apart.
RCR also went Hands on with Huawei’s tablet, the S7 Smakit, which some feel could be a smackdown to Apple’s iPad. We also got our grubby paws on Samsung’s latest offerings, getting videos of both the Galaxy S and Wave in action.
Ericsson was telling people to imagine what it might be like to have a tablet as a TV remote while Powerwave showed off its Power Boost and Walk-In MicroFlex cabinet offerings.
We also caught up with Yahoo’s VP of product management and connected life, Irv Henderson to talk mobile strategy and why APAC was so important to the popular internet portal.
Last, but not least, RCR also put up a CommunicAsia photo gallery for all those who want to see what they missed if they didn’t attend this year’s show.
Till next year!
