The twelfth edition of the Mobile World Congress(MWC) will not be forgotten. The world's largest technology fair focused on mobile solutions, which took place in Barcelona (Spain) from 27 February to 2 March, had a record number of participants with 110,000 people registered, a much higher figure compared to the 67,000 visitors in 2012.
Organised by the GSMA, which represents mobile operators from around the world, the MWC presented innovations such as mobile phones with screens that dominate the entire front (without physical buttons or bezel), dual cameras, iris recognition systems and shockproof and drop-proof construction, as well as connected cars, tablets, smartwatches, virtual reality and the deployment of 5G technology. In other words, there were many trends that were, in fact, already in the spotlight in other years, and none of them disruptive.
The new products from the phone companies did not attract as much attention as in previous editions, among other reasons because Samsung, one of the giants of the sector, did not present the latest version of its flagship phone, the Galaxy S8, and replaced it with tablets and virtual reality. In addition, Mark Zuckerberg did not accept the invitation this year, so room was given to Netflix CEO Reed Hastings and John Hanke, creator of Pokémon Go, although neither generated the same expectation.
Connected vehicles
Devices that connect to the internet were one of the main attractions of the fair. Although many were curious about the various smart city solutions, which aim to be more environmentally friendly and simplify the lives of citizens, the undisputed stars of the show were connected cars.
Manufacturers such as BMW, Ford, Mercedes, Peugeot and Volkswagen, among others, presented their latest models focused on the interaction of vehicles with their environment and autonomous driving. Attendees could get into the cars, while a guide took the place of the co-driver to explain the functions of the intelligent system. Basically, they all have a large front touchscreen display that provides access to GPS, radio from any country, indicators of all kinds about the car, weather, traffic and even commercial flights. In addition, it synchronises with your smartphone so that you no longer need to use it while driving.
Despite the similarities, each has its own particularities. Bosch presented facial recognition technology to identify drivers, as well as the possibility of unlocking and starting the car via smartphone. Meanwhile, Ford has announced that it will integrate Amazon's Alexa virtual assistant into its vehicles. A fact: these cars are priced at around US$ 85,000.
Connected motorbikes were also present at the MWC. Yamaha's TMax model is marketed with a mobile application that provides all kinds of notifications to its owner: fuel consumption, routes travelled, history of all kinds, average speed and even an alarm that sounds if someone touches the vehicle when it is on the street to prevent theft. In exchange for this, the owner must pay a monthly fee of about US$ 10.
Information security
The dream of internet-connected household appliances is taking shape. From lamps to toasters, it is now possible to manage these devices from smartphones. However, it's not all plain sailing: as people live with more devices that connect to the internet, the likelihood of a cyber attack increases.
In light of this scenario, and taking advantage of the days of the event, digital security product provider Avast conducted an experiment on smart devices in Barcelona and identified that 41% of routers are easily vulnerable. In addition, it discovered more than 22,000 webcams and baby monitors in the same situation, which means that cybercriminals could stream the videos live on the internet.
Speaking to Cromo, Gagan Singh, president of Avast's mobile division explained: "Those who own a smart TV should download security software to stay protected. Meanwhile, those with connected devices may want to purchase a router with embedded security firmware, which sends alerts to the owner's smartphone in real time if an attack occurs. All you need to do is check that the manufacturer has an agreement with a cyber security provider. He added: "Beyond the potential threats, it's not a matter of being afraid but of being cautious when choosing your next connected device, as well as following good practices such as using strong passwords and changing them regularly.
In this context, Avast launched the new version of its flagship home security software products that includes a more robust security engine and the benefits of advanced cloud-based scanning, faster detection times, as well as additional layers of protection.
The most precious device
The smartphone is the most commonly used everyday device, Google revealed at the show. For more than half of users, the smartphone is their preferred way to perform everyday tasks such as checking the time (60%) or setting an alarm (61%), the company's research indicated. In addition, two out of three surveyed say that the mobile phone is their main tool for taking photographs. When it comes to listening to music, half of people prefer to listen to it on a phone.
Incidentally, during the MWC several brands presented their new models. Among these, two companies that are trying to make a comeback with their launches stood out: Nokia and BlackBerry. In both cases, the devices are designed for the "nostalgic". In fact, Nokia presented three Android models and a reissue of the classic 3310. The latter received the most attention from attendees, as its original version was the second best-selling mobile phone in its history, after the Nokia 1100.
The 2017 version of the Nokia 3310 has a 2.4-inch colour display, and the snake game. While it includes Facebook Messenger, it does not come with WhatsApp. It also offers 2G connectivity and a two-megapixel camera at a price of 45 euros. At the time of testing, this phone disappoints as it incorporates old-fashioned functionalities and lacks today's most used features.
The new BlackBerry also seems to be designed for people who want to turn back the clock. From Chinese brand TCL, this model called the KeyOne also comes with Android. It also has a 4.5-inch screen, fast charging, a fingerprint sensor and a 12-megapixel camera.
Virtual assistants
Artificial intelligence is already with us, although it still has a long way to go before it matures. Throughout MWC there were numerous digital assistants that will increasingly allow humans to use natural language to interact with technology.
Specialists explained at the fair that we will soon be able to buy plane tickets or have our complaints about a purchased product dealt with without human intervention, as software based on artificial intelligence will assist us immediately. According to the consulting firm IDC, by 2020, 40 % of global commercial transactions will use some kind of digital assistant.
Beyond the innovations unveiled at the fair, the MWC was undoubtedly the meeting point for people from all over the world to generate business meetings, make an impact on visitors and measure themselves against competitors. However, it ended without making clear what the "Next Element" (its slogan for this year's edition) technology will surprise. We will have to wait another year.
THE BEST
Wifi
The internet access worked like a charm. In addition to being free, there were signs all over the venue informing which network to choose and its password.
Robocar
It is the first electric and autonomous racing car to compete in Formula E. The model is being launched following teamwork with companies such as Visa, Michelin and Allianz. According to the executives, the car weighs 975 kilos and measures 4.5 metres long by 2 metres wide, making it considerably larger than a Formula 1 car. It also comes with four engines so that the vehicle can reach 320 kilometres per hour.
THE WORST
Gadgets
Historically, brands have used the show to showcase their latest launches to the end consumer. However, on this occasion, most of the stands were focused on the business customer. In fact, there was very little presence of the home customer.
Smartphones
Although several brands made launches (see The five best mobile phones at MWC), no one model stood out above the others. It has certainly been a long time since there have been any notable innovations in this type of device.
THE CURIOUS
Surprises
A wedding dress with LEDs that change colour depending on the bride's mood, a mobile phone that withstands hammer blows, a child seat that warns the driver if the baby moves and a chip and an application that allows seals and sea lions to be monitored were other curiosities that attracted the attention of the attendees.
Source: El Observador supplement Cromo
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