MOBILE World Congress, the world’s largest wireless conference, gets under way today in Barcelona, as the cellular industry looks ahead to a recession year. <\/p>\n
Cellphone sales have exceeded records set the previous year, but the effects of the global downturn are likely to trim sales. <\/p>\n
However, this is expected to be the year of the smartphone, those powerful handsets that have the functionality of mini-computers. Last year 1.21 billion cellphones were sold, according to ABI Research, with smartphones selling 171 million handsets. <\/p>\n
Operators, manufacturers, content providers and the media will descend on Barcelona for the four-day event, where the year’s agenda is set. <\/p>\n
The most expected handset announcements are around the use of Android, a free cellphone operating system released last year by Google. Although early prototypes appeared at last year’s conference, the only significant device released late last year was the G1, made by HTC for T-Mobile. An improved model is expected, as are offerings from Huawei, Lenovo and Sony Ericsson. <\/p>\n
There is a lot of speculation that troubled maker Motorola could launch an Android phone, as it struggles to find a hit model like it’s ground-breaking Razr. <\/p>\n
Samsung has already said it’s delaying its Android phone until the second half of the year, but is expected to release the i8910 Acme smartphone, which produces HD Ready (720p) images using a new screen technology called active matrix organic light-emitting diode. <\/p>\n
Interestingly, Microsoft is making a splash at Barcelona this year, with its chief executive Steve Ballmer making his first trip and delivering a keynote address. Microsoft is expected to launch Windows Mobile 6.5, the next version of its often panned operating system for mobile phones, which may include a service to sync handsets with online storage. There is even some speculation that toy maker Lego will premiere a cellphone of its own. <\/p>\n
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