The real-time counter on the GSMA Intelligence website shows the constant rise of mobile phone subscribers worldwide.
The market is huge and there's plenty of money to be made, but there's a design challenge for manufacturers.
"How do you differentiate a rectangular block with a touchscreen, a battery and a camera?” said Ben Wood, chief of research at CCS Insight. “What we've seen at Mobile World Congress is some of the manufacturers addressing that with some of the launches they've delivered."
Mobile World Congress, one of the world's biggest mobile shows, is taking place through Thursday in Barcelona.
The cool factor
For Sony, the focus is on the phone's camera. Its Xperia X phone has a camera that is ready to take a picture in less than 0.6 second.
For LG, the new G5 has a modular design and an assortment of attachments that add battery life and upgrade the phone's camera function.
For Samsung, the Galaxy S7 has a larger battery and the ability to add memory — as much as 200 gigabytes.
The price point
But these gadgets cost a lot, so manufacturers in China and India are coming out with cheaper smartphones.
"We are seeing a swing from developed markets to developing markets,” said Neil Mawston of Strategy Analytics. “So, more Chinese brands. More Indian brands. And I think, potentially, also more African brands in the future, as well."
But with cameras that can shoot 360 degrees, another opportunity is opening up: virtual reality. Samsung is already pairing its phone with VR goggles.
The VR key
"These are the devices that are going to generate loads of content,” Wood said, “and user-generated content is going to be key to driving the market."
Manufacturers are hoping that, very soon, almost everybody will want a set of VR goggles for gaming, exploring distant places or mingling with friends and family who are not physically present. And connectivity may soon be available to new areas.
"We are, this year, going to launch our first satellite over Africa in order to be able to work with operators to extend connectivity and beam down Internet there," said Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook.
CCS Insight predicts that by the end of this year, consumers will buy as many as 13 million virtual reality headsets.
Vocabulary
real-time: 实时的
暑期日记
erest makes miracle(呃是奇迹)
国际英语资讯:Turkeys COVID-19 cases surpass 160,000; Chinese medical team in Khartoum to help Sudans
暑假计划How I Spent My Summer Vacation
每日一词∣互联网诊疗 online diagnosis and treatment
tecting our city is our duty(我们的城市是我们的责任)
感恩一切感恩一切(Thanks for Everything)
森林防火
How I Spent My Summer Vacation
Selfless love(无私的爱)
体坛英语资讯:No end in sight for Brazilian football recess
感恩父母
国际英语资讯:U.S. COVID-19 cases top 1.7 mln -- Johns Hopkins University
school life
The Littlest Fireman(小小消防员)
English— a bridge to the world
感恩父亲
The brilliant teachers(优秀的老师)
国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Protests over George Floyds death turn violent in Minneapolis, spread to other
日纪事圣诞节-Christmas Day
Taking ones lumps? 默默忍受
Transfer love(感激之情)
预防甲流的方法
Swine flu came
国际英语资讯: Italy records over 150,000 COVID-19 recoveries, death toll at 33,142
village, my love
I hope everyone can keep healthy(我希望每个人都身体健康)
国际英语资讯:U.S. Minnesota declares state of emergency after protests over death of George Floyd turn ri
A-H1N1 and its Prevention
一起抗击甲流
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