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March 29, 2014

Mobility TechZone Week in Review

Mobile tech is constantly on the move – just like the people who use it the most. Not only are new devices and software shaping the market and how people use mobile tech, but the ways in which mobile tech is used is also studied heavily, leading to some interesting trends within the market. Here’s what happened just this week in the world of mobile technology.

Research firm eMarketer has kept a close eye on how marketers are spending on mobile ads around the world, and they have noticed a sharp increase in how much is being spent on mobile advertising – with global spending increasing by 105 percent in the year 2013 alone. In the next year, the mobile ad market is predicted to double yet again, and the driving forces of this spending have been identified as Facebook and Google.

Facebook and Google have recently updated their mobile apps to appeal to smartphone and tablet users, which has resulted in a large increase in usage for both companies. Of the additional $9.2 billion that went into mobile advertising globally last year, Facebook and Google spent almost $7 billion and made up over three quarters of the spending. Together, they are expected to further dominate the mobile ad market in 2014.

Speaking of apps, Microsoft has recently begun a cross-platform endeavor into the Apple App store by introducing Office for iPad – a freemium version of Microsoft Office that offers basic services yet allows users to upgrade to more advanced features. Apple users appear to have taken a liking to the release, as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint almost immediately shot up to the top three positions in the App store. Even Microsoft’s OneNote climbed to the number four list after a new update, which leaves the app store in an awkward situation because Microsoft’s products are now at the top of their competitor’s best app list.

Tablet Hybrid Devices are also on the rise, and shipments of devices that fall into the category are expected to reach 50 million by 2018. Part of this reason is due to versatility – a tablet hybrid device is basically a tablet that can either turn into a fully-functioning laptop computer or a laptop that can break apart into a separate tablet component. These devices are popular because they provide the mobility of a tablet when needed, but the addition of a keyboard, extra ports and a larger battery give them the power and utility of a laptop computer – comparable to a desktop from only a few years ago.



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