Top 10 smartphone innovations of 2011

SAN FRANCISCO--As smartphones become ever more ubiquitous and the speed of mobile innovation increases exponentially month by month, keeping track of the big innovations over a full year can seem a futile task. The changes, once recorded seem almost incremental when looked at through the year’s rear view mirror.

Yet, with 2012 pressing fast upon us, it is worth recording some of the more significant episodes that left their mark on the mobile market in 2011, even at the risk of them falling flat as New Year’s champagne come the morning of Jan 1st.

It also is not terribly easy to define what is and what is not a “big innovation” in mobile. Is it, for instance, a technology that is just beginning to emerge, and to wow people with its concept, or one that really found its feet this year? Does it have to be utterly revolutionary to make the cut, or simply point the way towards an interesting trend?

For the purpose of this highly subjective list, I’ve opted for a pick and mix variety; from processors to operating systems, to disruptive pricing models and increased network speeds.

It does not pretend to be comprehensive, nor does it aim to be definitive, and comments regarding your own selections are –as ever-- most welcome.


Thus, without further ado, I’ll begin this list with the smallest of components which arguably has the biggest effect on every generation of smartphones, the mobile application processor.
Next: Processors
Top 10 smartphone innovations of 2011