“In the not-so-distant future, we won’t have mobile phones. They will be replaced by mixed reality headsets. These headsets will allow us to transition seamlessly from reality to augmented reality to virtual reality depending on our needs and the situation.

For instance, we can redecorate our homes using augmented reality. We can try different couches virtually in our apartment before buying without ever leaving our home. Then, we will be able to shift into VR to watch the newest Netflix release. Mobile devices are just the first step towards a future where the hardware is directly integrated into our every action.”

“Computers will be entirely replaced by smartphones, as the average consumer will be able to conduct the same tasks with them, adding the advantages of portability and increased convenience to it. Device manufacturers will focus on two things:

Firstly, improving smartphones’ user experience with better working tools’ compatibility like the microsoft package.

And secondly, achieving device versatility so that a smartphone can emulate a static pc-like experience when needed, with connected accessories such as a monitor, mouse and keyboard.”

“The great news for mobile phones in the future will be the significant freeing up of space as apps move to work through mobile browsers. In 2016, for the first time, we saw brands retiring their native apps in favor of progressive web apps.

PWAs take up a fraction of the space on your phone and still work offline. They also use far less data. This is a significant shift with good news for mobile users who won’t have to waste time uninstalling apps to make room for new ones.”

“The term mobile will go away – The term mobile, as we currently know it, will finally fade away. We use our mobile phones around the house as much as we do when we’re truly on the go. And, mobile doesn’t really apply to software apps that power experiences for connected homes and the IoT (which aren’t mobile). In 2017 and beyond, our industry will find new ways to describe applications for connected experiences.”

“The mobile phone is dead“– some experts are shouting this out since years. To my mind this is not 100% true. But it is getting harder to survive in this business.

Development and technology is the key! Bent displays, eye tracker, Augmented Reality, every kind of sensor and many other gadgets will be part of the standard equipment soon.

Another important point will be the connection to other devices. Internet of things is coming!

Will the data goggles take the part of the mobile phone? Google and Microsoft are working on it but it is still not a replacement of the mobile phone.

We know that a good Marketing strategy of a big company could change this and attract the consumer. Finally it is always not just about technology and development but also about an efficient Marketing strategy to keep the mobile phone alive.”

“We have come a long way since the launch of Ericsson R380 – the first mobile device marketed as a ‘smartphone’. Contrary to reports, the mobile industry is far from nearing saturation. Today, from shopping to health, everything is on the mobile phone.

In the next 20 years, the industry will have seen tremendous penetration in developing countries and onboard users who would experience ‘smartphones’ for the first time. The race to acquire newer customers and keeping them hooked is going to get whole lot competitive.

The mobile phone will continuously keep reinventing itself to stay relevant to the market. Technologies like AR/VR will be the crucial differentiator. The term ‘connectivity’ will have a completely new definition.”

“Mobile phones eventually become wearables — something like a portable display that we will carry around, as a sort of wide bracelet. They will become the command central to all of other wearable devices — such as AR headsets; which will most likely have built-in earphones.

At this point, the device is renamed to something more appropriate for their true potential — something like Command Central Unit (CCU), Portable Smart Display (PSD), Portable Display (PD), etc.

These PD devices will be the new window to reality. Eventually, it may become virtually impossible to exist without one.”

“Forget about sci-fi-like implants and chips – surely not many people will be welcoming of that. I’d expect that radical changes will happen but not to that extent. We’re bound to see more expected changes such as improved data speeds, bigger storage space and super graphics. There’s also a whole world to explore with virtual and augmented reality for mobile.

The best thing about mobile phones is the sheer amount of competition. Assuming the current players are still around, expect voice controls, hardware specs and even battery life to continue to improve greatly. On top of that network providers will likely be looking to get one up on the competition. Data coverage should be very close to 100% of the country eliminating lack of signal.

As data moves to 5G, 6G etc. superfast phones with incredibly battery life and functionality should be expected. Innovation steadily increase over the next two decades.”