The rise of large screen devices
Image credit: Devindra Hardawar/VentureBeat
Source: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/227995
Guestpost by Jessica Oaks, Editor at Freshly Tech
The Rise of Large-Screen Mobile Devices
One can be forgiven for skepticism when told, once again, that this year will finally be the true year of mobile. Mashable predicted 2012 would be the year of mobile – for advertisers and malware creators at least. The New York Times predicted 2013 would be “all about mobile.” And each year the prediction has fallen short making 2014 the third year of mobile we’ve seen splashed across the headlines.
But before you write off 2014 consider this: Last year, analysts at technology research and advisory firm Gartner predicted that tablets and smartphones would outsell both traditional laptop and desktops PCs worldwide by 2017. More recently market intelligence firm IDC updated that to 2015 for tablets alone. Now some are saying sales figures aside, it’s marketers and consumers driving the mobile revolution that is happening right under our noses.
Marketers, of course, are going to congregate where they can reach the most eyeballs and right now that is on mobile devices. Studies show that 42% of American adults currently own tablets and 58% of American adults have a smartphone, so it isn’t surprising that mobile advertising and mobile optimization is hot. More importantly, tablets and even smartphones have become the go-to “second screen” for online browsing, shopping, watching movies, reading, checking email and playing games. Why sit down at a laptop – or even in front of the TV – when you have a computer right in your pocket or bag?
So what makes 2014 so special when chances are your grandparents have been watching Netflix on their phones and tablets for a few years at least? Enter the phablet. A portmanteau of the words phone and tablet, phablets are devices that exist in the space between smaller smartphones and larger tablets offering the best of both possible worlds. In terms of screen size they bring 5-7 inches diagonally to the table making them great for screen-intensive activities like watching movies and TV, reading and web browsing. Don’t be surprised to hear that the year of mobile coincides with the year of the phablet. These devices have already outsold both laptops and tablets in Asia in 2013. The US could very well be next.
As for what else large-screen, small profile mobile devices bring to the table, there’s size. The computing power found in these handy gadgets doesn’t come with any sacrifice in portability – Forbes magazine reported that while most men’s clothing can’t tote a tablet many jackets and pants pockets can securely hold a phablet for easy carrying. Dockers has even reworked the size of its pants pockets to fit expanding smartphone screens. And then there are the data deals. Wireless carriers such as T-Mobile now offer free 4G LTE and other incentives so customers can go online anywhere without worrying about wi-fi and high costs that can be associated with all smart devices.
Whether 2014 will truly be the year of the phablet is anyone’s guess. But when anyone is Tom Mainelli, program vice president for devices and displays at IDC, guesses are worth a little more. The market intelligence firm recently revised its tablet sales estimates to show 6.5 million tablets less than its original forecast of 260.9 million, announcing that the introduction of phablets was responsible for declining tablet sales. Mainelli told Tech Times that these smartphones on steroids are causing consumers to second guess tablet purchases. After all, how much more mileage can you really get out of just a couple more inches?
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