DT
18
Business
SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2016
Tech world eyes digital life beyond the smartphone
A man inspects the Apple iPhone 6 Plus at an electronics store in Mumbai REUTERS
n AFP, Washington The smartphone revolutionized how people live and work, but the technology world is now struggling to see what comes next. As smartphone sales have peaked in most major markets, Apple, Samsung and others are being forced to rethink their business models to keep growing and connecting with consumers. The trend in smartphones appears to follow similar peaks in tablet sales and personal computers, said Bob O’Donnell, chief analyst at Technalysis Research. “We are clearly entering a new era where growth of traditional devices has ended and you have to think differently,” O’Donnell said. It’s not clear what will be the “next big thing” in technology or even if there is one, and that is troubling for an industry that has been living off growth from smartphones and their ecosystems of Android and Apple iOS applications. John Curran, managing director of Accenture’s communications, media, and technology group, said that in a maturing smartphone market, consumers are not hesitating about new purchases. “Consumers are basically satisfied with their current devices,” said Curran. Curran said the Internet of Things appears to be a promising market but that no single device has proved compelling so far. “We’re seeing a broad range of devices, smartwatches, home automation, drones and the like,” Curran said. “But these are not taking off (because) people don’t see the personal value in their lives yet.” An Accenture survey released in January, based on polls in 28 countries, found declines in purchase
intent for new smartphones and other big-ticket electronics devices. Only a relative small number of consumers expressed interest in new Internet of Things devices such as smartwatches or drones expressing concerns over cost, security and complexity of use.
‘We’re seeing a broad range of devices, smartwatches, home automation, drones and the like’ Curran said the smartphone became wildly popular because it addressed a key problem of communications for people on the go, but that the next big thing is not clear. “Consumers are looking for things that solve practical, tangible problems,” he said. “They want to see things that make their lives easier, that delight and amaze them.”
Looking for integration
Ramon Llamas, analyst at the research firm IDC, said consumers want to see how all their new gadgets and services can be interconnected. “The smartphone will still have a privileged place in our lives, but it needs to connect to all our other devices,” he said. “You want your smartphone to talk to your home security system and your wearable device.” Global smartphone sales in the first quarter showed their slowest growth on record of 0.2%, according to IDC. A separate report by Juniper Research was even more gloomy, saying global sales fell nearly six percent.
The market for devices such as smartwatches, fitness bands and smart home technology is growing, but in a more disjointed fashion, with a number of competing operating systems that can often confuse consumers. “In all of those environments, you will need some level of computing or connectivity, so the companies that can deliver those kinds of things will be better positioned,” O’Donnell said. With no single important device dominating, O’Donnell said the future tech landscape will see players emerge that can combine hardware, software, virtual reality and artificial intelligence. That could open the door to important roles for Facebook, Amazon, Intel and other players.
Devices ‘fade away’
Some look to a landscape where technology and artificial intelligence permeate all aspects of life, where the “device” may become almost irrelevant. “Looking to the future, the next big step will be for the very concept of the ‘device’ to fade away,” says Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Alphabet unit Google, in a recent blog post. “Over time, the computer itself - whatever its form factor - will be an intelligent assistant helping you through your day. We will move from mobile first to an AI (artificial intelligence) first world.” Samsung, the world’s biggest smartphone maker, said it too is looking at a different future of connected things. “We are already imagining the next step beyond the smartphone,” Samsung Electronics mobile communications business president Dongjin Koh told the company’s developer conference in California. Samsung wants to integrate software and services using its Tizen platform in the belief that “everywhere you go, there will be opportunities to bring devices and people together,” Koh said. Intel, the company known for PC chips and failing to recognize the shift to mobile devices, last month unveiled a major restructuring, with a view to the “Internet of Things.” Some reports said Intel’s new structure abandons the smartphone in favor of emerging devices and services. “The biggest opportunity in the Internet of Things is that it encompasses just about everything in our lives today,” said Intel CEO Brian Krzanich in a blog post. “From our shoes and clothes to our homes and cars - the Internet of Things is transforming everything and every experience.” l
India to gradually move to gas-based economy n Reuters, New Delhi India plans to shift to a gas-based economy by boosting domestic production and buying cheap liquefied natural gas (LNG) as the world’s third-biggest oil importer seeks to curb its greenhouse emissions, oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan said. New Delhi has promised to shave a third off its emissions rate by 2030, partly by boosting the use of cleaner burning fuels. “Gradually we are shifting towards a sustainable gas economy,” Pradhan told Reuters in an interview. Gas accounts for about 8 percent of India’s energy mix, while oil accounts for more than a quarter. India’s gas supply deficit is expected to widen from 78 million cubic metres a day (mscmd) this fiscal year to 117 mscmd in 2021-22, ac-
cording to a government estimate. India recently negotiated better terms for a long-term LNG deal with Qatar and importer Petronet LNG is in talks with Exxon to renegotiate pricing for gas from Australia’s Gorgon project. “The price should be affordable to us. We respect long-term contracts but everybody has to appreciate the changing scenario,” said Pradhan. “In a bigger canvas ... India has the potential of a huge market base”. Pradhan last month visited Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Iran to deepen ties with its main oil suppliers. “We want to move beyond a buyer-seller relationship,” he said, adding that India was offering them stakes in its pipelines, petrochemical complexes and refineries. l
CORPORATE NEWS
IDLC Finance Limited has recently signed an agreement with PaCT (Partnership for Cleaner Textile), a programme of International Finance Corporation (IFC) on developing business strategy in water and energy efficiency for strengthening position of IDLC in the green industry. CEO and MD of IDLC Finance Limited, Arif Khan and Wendy Werner, country manager of IFC Bangladesh were present at the signing ceremony, said a press release
Marico Bangladesh Ltd has recently announced appointment of Ashraful Hadi, as an independent director of the company for next three years, said a press release. Barrister Ashraful Hadi is an advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh with over 15 years of experience as a lawyer
Social Islami Bank Limited has recently held a business review meeting to evaluate the bank’s performance, said a press release. The bank’s chairperson, Major Dr Md Rezaul Haque (retired) was present at the meeting as chief guest while its managing director and CEO, Md Shafiqur Rahman presided over the meeting