Say goodbye to the physical keyboard – if you still have one – that comes on your smartphone.
New research shows nearly three-quarters of smartphones shipped just five years from now will be touchscreen-only. In its new study, “Smartphone Evolution Strategies," Juniper Research says manufacturers will ship 700 million touchscreen-only smartphones – 72 percent of the total (approximately 1 billion). That’s up from just over half in 2010.
Juniper’s study looked at manufacturers’ future plans for smartphone models and found a “distinct trend away from hard-key-only interfaces." One example is Research In Motion – well-known for its iconic keyboard – announcing new devices focused more on touchscreen interaction.
“Touchscreen displays not only provide a superior user experience for many activities, but free up space on the device for a larger display: That extra 2 to 3 inches can make a world of difference in the range of activities that can be performed more comfortably on the smartphone," said report author Daniel Ashdown. “For example, mobile games – the most downloaded type of app – are more appealing with a larger display."
Juniper’s research also shows 3D-enabled smartphones will start to catch on – led by LG and HTC – with shipments reaching 80 million by 2016; less-expensive smartphones ($150 or lower) will represent one-third of shipments in five years; and smartphones that can morph into game consoles, tablets, etc., will become more common as vendors look for unique selling points.
