To all phablets
For every 100 mobile devices activated in the last quarter of 2014, 13 were phablets, i.e. large format mobile phones with a screen size of 5,1 inches (130 mm) or more. GFK, a research company, tells us. Gfk also informs us that oriental people are the most attracted to phablets. In the Far East they grew by 18% in the last quarter of 2014. Europe is further behind with an increase of 6,4%, still double the previous year. According to IDC, a research firm in the field of new technologies, in 2014, 175 million phablets were activated, more than laptops and more than desktop computers. In 2018, phablet shipments will rise to 600 million, almost double the tablets and three times the laptops. From 2014 to 2018 there will be an average annual growth of 60% for phablets against 5,5% for normal smartphones and 6,8% for tablets. The chart above is pretty explicit about the role of phablets in the near future.
Few phone calls, but much more
The phablet concept was invented right in the East in 2007 by HTC, a Taiwanese company, e popularized by Samsung, a Korean company, with the Galaxy Note. Apple, which is generally the one that invents and snubs ideas born elsewhere, took three years to discover the potential of the large format. When the iphone 6plus, an almost perfect object, consumers began to appreciate and then to desire a large format mobile phone. It's called a mobile phone, but few calls will be made from phablets and those who like to talk a lot on the phone will find it quite irritating. Phablets are tools for content production and consumption with the ease and comfort of a tablet or laptop. The air of derision and ridicule that surrounded phablets has now all but vanished.
Farhad Manjoo, the NYTimes technology columnist who replaced David Pogue at the New York newspaper, wrote in his "The State of the Art" column that it's time to make peace with the term phablet, adding: "They're not just phones large format. They are clearly a new type of computer, a device that is more versatile and useful than a smartphone or laptop. phablets could even become the dominant device of the future, the most popular type of smartphone, and perhaps the only computer, we could ever need.” Then he concluded: “If an alien race descended on earth and forced the earthlings to use one machine for everything, then I would choose the iPhone 6 plus.
One for all, all for one
all in one, here is the allure of the phablet. Men will be able to go out in a T-shirt and jacket and read the NYTimes or Corriere or stream the derby without having to gouge out their eyes. Women will have the lightest handbags. In the evening there will be only one device to load and you no longer have to find out on which device you downloaded the latest ebook or newspaper issue. For many, the day is already quite full and removing some duties is a pleasure.
That's why there are and will be more and more phablets. Because it's practical. The phablet is also a blessing for content developers. Until now, it was worthwhile for the reader to use certain types of content on a smartphone, such as a newspaper article, an ebook, a report enriched with graphics.
The developers of this type of content, if they wanted to reach the smartphone audience, had to prepare very basic versions of the content unable to compete with the richer and more attractive versions prepared for the web and other larger format media such as paper. Now with the spread of phablets, the developer of such content will be able to reach a wider audience and will be able to do so not with a "minor" or fallback version, but with a "full" version. Which makes a big difference.
Personally producing content, other than a quick email or social media post, with a normal smartphone is also something that tests the patience, especially of non-digital natives, those who have the money to buy a phablet . With a little practice, you can write an entire book on a phablet, as well as read it, of course. Just take the iPhone 6 plus out of your pocket and start writing or reading. It will work so well that you will be amazed! Phabletmania.
