Virtual Reality Goggles May Be Next Must-Have_美文

Virtual Reality Goggles May Be Next Must-Have

The real-time counter on the GSMA Intelligence website shows the constant rise of mobile phone subscribers worldwide.

The market is huge and there's plenty of money to be made, but there's a design challenge for manufacturers.

"How do you differentiate a rectangular block with a touchscreen, a battery and a camera?” said Ben Wood, chief of research at CCS Insight. “What we've seen at Mobile World Congress is some of the manufacturers addressing that with some of the launches they've delivered."

Mobile World Congress, one of the world's biggest mobile shows, is taking place through Thursday in Barcelona.

The cool factor

For Sony, the focus is on the phone's camera. Its Xperia X phone has a camera that is ready to take a picture in less than 0.6 second.

For LG, the new G5 has a modular design and an assortment of attachments that add battery life and upgrade the phone's camera function.

For Samsung, the Galaxy S7 has a larger battery and the ability to add memory — as much as 200 gigabytes.

The price point

But these gadgets cost a lot, so manufacturers in China and India are coming out with cheaper smartphones.

"We are seeing a swing from developed markets to developing markets,” said Neil Mawston of Strategy Analytics. “So, more Chinese brands. More Indian brands. And I think, potentially, also more African brands in the future, as well."