Network Security and Technology Ownership to Become Leading US Smartphone Battlegrounds in 2014

​The search for the next hero smartphone device has become a distraction for leading US mobile carriers juggling top line subscriber growth, churn rates, and bottom line revenues. As one of the most competitive smartphone markets in the world, the US landscape will change over the next two years as operators address mobile OS choices, device OEM relationships and new consumer applications. The rapid adoption of smartphones will also have some unsavory side-effects, namely hundreds of millions of points of network vulnerability.  New analysis from market intelligence firm ABI Research finds mobile device and network security will top the list of carrier strategies in 2014.

“Every smartphone subscriber end-point is a potential threat to the mobile network,” says senior practice director Jeff Orr. Non-intrusive and effective policies are necessary for carriers to mitigate these threats. Most importantly, the network needs multiple levels of security. Embedded hardware security and end-user applications represent the majority of today’s implementations. “Beyond device-specific implementations of hardware and software security, ABI Research cannot emphasize enough the need for a contextual approach: who, where and what is being done,” adds Orr. This methodology is not significantly different than the trust policies being formed within enterprise markets that encompass the user, the device, and location awareness.

Beyond securing the network, mobile network operators are caught up in a beauty contest to select the next handset that every subscriber desires.  An August 2012 webinar hosted by ABI Research unveiled several reasons for the success that Samsung and Apple are having in the smartphone market compared to the plight of other device OEMs.  The court battles waged by these two leading companies are only the first volley in a much larger industry struggle for technology ownership.  “Expect additional players with intellectual property to get involved and use the world’s courts as a stage for a war between integrated versus discrete components,” advises research director Philip Solis.

The report “US Carrier Smartphone Trends” provides a high-level summary of smartphone trends assembled from the analysis, market data, and vendor matrix development across multiple ABI disciplines. It forms part of ABI Research’s Mobile Device Enabling Technologies Research Service, which comprehensively analyzes the technology segments affecting growth in the global mobile devices marketplace.

ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of trends in global connectivity and other emerging technologies. From offices in North America, Europe and Asia, ABI Research’s worldwide team of experts advises thousands of decision makers through 70+ research and advisory services. Est. 1990. For more information visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.