Google Android, LTE Lead Charge At Mobile World Congress
With that in mind, below are five key themes to watch at Mobile World Congress. Also be sure to check out 20 Potential Eye-Catchers at Mobile World Congress, looking at new products from smartphones to bases.
1. Android excitement
It's safe to say Google Android, the search giant's mobile OS, came a long way in the past year. Before, it was a fledgling mobile platform primed and ready to eat into mobile OS market share. By the time the year was through, it had a commanding growth rate and a number of highly visible smartphones -- including the Motorola Droid -- to call its own. That Google in January released its own, problem-plagued Nexus One smartphone has only upped Android's profile. Expect to see many of the world's top smartphone makers, including HTC, Motorola and Sony Ericsson, touting their Android wares.
2. LTE optimization
Long Term Evolution, the 4G wireless interface, has plenty of big-name backers. What's coming next are the products: the wireless enablement service, the access point testers, and the infrastructure. Walking the halls at Mobile World Congress, it would be surprising to go a whole 10 minutes -- let alone a whole day -- without hearing LTE mentioned at least once.
3. Enabling The Mobile Worker
Much has been made about the ability of enterprises to extend the strength and efficiency of their telephony and data infrastructure to include mobile devices for on-the-go workers. Plenty of vendors have laid claim to best-in-class solutions already.
4. Cisco vs. Juniper
Cisco and Juniper compete in plenty of places, and mobile infrastructure optimization is the only the latest battleground. Juniper confirmed this week it will launch software, packet distribution, mobile network optimization and mobile packet core system products at MWC, while Cisco is bringing ASR 5000, a repackaged version of the ST40 mobile core chassis it now owns through its acquisition of Starent Networks last fall.
5. All Eyes On Microsoft
Microsoft and Windows Mobile 7 -- along with the possibility of a Zune phone -- was among the biggest will-it-or-won't-it topics heading into the conference. Will Microsoft emerge from Mobile World Congress in better shape -- with a better outlook for its floundering mobile progress -- than before?