Mobile phones have come a long way since the 'brick' phones of the 1980s. Today's phones incorporate the latest form factors and technologies including touch interfaces, efficient battery and cellular applications. But what factors influence their design and development?

The mobile semiconductor platform landscape is constantly evolving, with newer platforms that can enable powerful and feature-rich smartphones gaining prominence today. OEMs have used these to churn out several 2.5G, 3G, 3G+, feature phones, smart phones as well as convergent devices like MIDs and Netbooks to keep pace with the current rapid demand.

The advent of smartphones like the iPhone, Android, Blackberry and Windows Mobile saw the rise of mobile applications as a new phenomenon. These applications are increasingly becoming both entertainment and productivity channels.

Over the years, wireless vendors, mobile platform vendors, OEMs/ODMs and carriers have been part of the mobile services evolution from basic voice communication, messaging applications to the advanced data services of today. Market factors which determine success in this segment are innovative services and faster time-to-market.