Tired of toting around the same smartphone day after day?
Many people already have a BlackBerry or iPhone. But newer players are capturing the attention to emerge as real threats in the smartphone market.
Handsets with the Android software are expected to become the most popular mobiles by 2016, at which point they are projected to take 38 per cent of the global smartphone market.
Projections from Ovum, the telecoms analyst, show these kinds of phones will have more market share than the BlackBerry and iPhone combined.
Consumers looking for a new phone in the GCC, where handset owners tend to upgrade their mobiles every 18 months or so, have plenty of options at this time of year.
On March 30, the mobile device maker HTC announced it was releasing no fewer than five new smartphones in the second quarter of the year. Here are some of the other latest offerings:
Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc
This slim (8.7mm-thick) smartphone features an extra-wide 10.6cm touch screen. The digital functions are particularly handy for those who want to show off the pictures and videos they take with the phone's 8.1-megapixel camera, which can shoot in high definition even in low light. This model includes the Android operating system, providing access to some 100,000 applications, and is due for release at the end of this week.
Samsung Galaxy Pro
This smartphone, which has been described as a strong choice for business professionals, can be controlled by either a touch screen or through keypad typing. While it is not slated for release in the UAE until next week through Axiom Telecom, it will include the Android software, which fans of apps will appreciate. The downside: its camera boasts a weak 3 megapixels.
Intex Technologies V.Show
This innovative mobile made its debut last month. It is claimed to be the first handset with a built-in projector that can display films, videos, pictures and online content on to a wall. A dual-SIM feature seems particularly handy for expats, who can carry a local SIM card and from their home country.
