1.Wearables
Few mobile phone accessories have received the buzz that wearables, particularly smartwatches, have more info received in the past couple years. With their promise of convenient notifications and healthy living solutions, wearables were expected to be a hit. But in recent quarters, the results were quite the contrary. New data from AppleInsider states that only 6.8 million smartwatches were sold in 2014, compared to roughly 1.7 billion smartphones in the market. 2015 is shaping up to the year to change this less than mediocre trend. Companies such as LG recently released new and updated variants of their smartwatch as well as a newer, higher end device which they are calling the LG Watch Urbane. Also expect new players in the smartwatch market; Particularly Apple and HTC. The company which many regard as being a lifestyle, Apple, expects to sell 26.3 million units before the end of 2015. Also, HTC is rumored to be developing a smartwatch in partnership with UnderArmour. HTC rumors claim that the smartphone maker will offer a curved glass display on its aluminum cased smartwatch, a first in the industry.
2. Chinese Phones
When you think smartphone manufacturers, a few common names come to mind: Apple, Samsung, Motorola, LG, Sony & HTC. However, the heated Chinese smartphone market will soon invade the US as well. Chinese manufacturers such as ZTE, Oppo, Huawei, and Xiaomi are beginning to enter the US smartphone market because of their relatively inexpensive, well built, and spec rich smartphones. China itself is the world's largest smartphone market and these native companies have built a massive base from which to expand into Europe and North America.
3. Microsoft’s comeback attempt, again…
As far as smartphones are considered, Microsoft Windows isn’t the most popular or sought after brand. Their operations system, Windows, although intuitive and rather likeable, fails to attract the smartphone user. With less than 3% of smartphones running Windows, Microsoft has a lot of catching up to do it they want to regain a strong foot hold in the smartphone market. Rather than attempt to conquer the high end flagship market, Microsoft will wisely opt to follow the success of the mid-range Nokia Lumia 520 and focus on building foundations in the budget market.
4. Wireless Charging
Although wireless charging has been around for many years, the technology finally promises to change the way you charge your phone. Some manufacturers, such as Microsoft, even offer a free wireless charging pad with the purchase of their smartphone. Smartphone manufacturers such as Samsung has dropped some big hints that its next generation of phones will support wireless charging while chipmaker Intel has been busy developing a new processor family that will support cable-free charging.
And who knows what powerful cell phone charging technologies are in store for 2016.
