Yet more acronyms dazzled the mobile consumer in 2007, and for once they do seem to care.  In the short time the iPhone has been available, it’s comparatively few users are accessing more web sites than any other mobile browser (although Opera Mini is an excellent alternative). 

HSPA can bring us the speed of a home broadband connection almost anywhere in the UK.  WiMAX will be great as a ‘portable fixed line wherever the like of Pipex’s FREEDOM4 service is rolled out, especially in the rental and small business market.  However low cost HSPA services will dominate mobile broadband in 2008.

It seems that the handset manufacturers are now the brand of choice for people upgrading, not the networks.  With Apple insisting on revenue share, and Nokia launching their content and application platform, Ovi, there seems to be something of a power shift happening.  The confidence of the manufacturers is steadily increasing reducing the power of the networks to dictate handset user interfaces, colour schemes and access to content. 

Carphone Warehouse offer interim 9 month upgrades as they see the folly of 18 month contracts.  In this industry, the rate of change is accelerating and customers do not want to be seen with last year’s fashion.

I have always had a nagging respect for the Siemens Mobile.  It’s a great pity for their dedicated and talented employees that the company could not be rescued.  They pioneered a number of innovative handsets such as the 1999 S25 with its colour screen and WAP over SMS, the quirky Xelibri range, through to their 2006 swan song with Benq, the nearly launched SL91; still one of the smallest, best looking 3G handset ever.  

There comes a point when no amount of money could rescue the slide in sales, and their innovative new products came just too late.  Such a shame.