Phablets: OTT content boosts sales

The phablets - which are the devices with mobile phone capabilities, but with screens from 5.6 inches, reaching up to 7 inches, smaller size of a tablet - will win a share of the market, suggests Juniper Research. Segunod consultancy, in 2013, 20 million units were produced worldwide phablets. In 2018 will be 120 million, which will mean a boost of over 500%.

The reason for the growth is the demand in East Asia, in countries such as South Korea, where there is desire for large screens to run games, and in China, where values ​​a better screen quality for streaming content over-the-top (OTT). With all this, Juniper says the market phablets can become a growth area for suppliers of smartphones already established with target consumers passionate about technology, citing recent launches from companies such as Nokia and Alcatel.

As there is not, at least so far, no representative of Apple in this niche market phablets will be dominated by two operating systems: Android and Windows Phone. Notably, the system will be promoted by Microsoft Lumia line, Nokia, Juniper and believes that this player will have better performance particularly in developing countries. The side of the Google system, the leadership will be the series Galaxy Note, Samsung.

4G: Nokia and Alcatel-Lucent can close a joint venture

The market for network infrastructure vendors are busy in late 2013. According to rumors, Nokia will be discussing internally if get closer to its French rival Alcatel-Lucent for a merger, part of the Finnish company's strategy to grow after the sale of its mobile business to Microsoft. A union between Nokia Siemens Networks and Alcatel-Lucent have strong impact on the market 4G - with direct impact on Ericsson and Chinese rival Huawei in direct business with the carriers.

No formal conversation are in progress with Alcatel-Lucent, the sources said. One person close to the situation said that Nokia held discussions to buy the business of Alcatel Mobile in mid-2012 and that the two companies could return to the negotiating table. Speculation about a combination between Nokia and Alcatel-Lucent have occur a few years ago, while the two companies are struggling to compete with market leader Ericsson and Asian companies network equipment Huawei and ZTE.

Microsoft announced on September 3 that will buy the business phones and Nokia patents for 5.44 billion euros (7.3 billion dollars). Nokia said that it will evaluate strategies for its remaining operations before closing the deal. These operations include mapping software called HERE and patent portfolio.