21: Evolution Of Mobile Phones, What's Next?

21: Evolution Of Mobile Phones, What's Next?

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You probably remember how popular Nokia's 3310 device was when it launched back in 2000. Affectionately known as “Die Hard” by ardent fans, it was for many the possession that would make them truly feel a part of 21st Century civilisation.

It’s pretty incredible how far mobile telephony has come in the 15 years since Nokia launched the record-breaking 3310 handset.

Who could have guessed that in 2015, Nokia would be a faltering giant, Africa would be at the forefront of the world’s mobile-first/mobile-only revolution, and that much of the continent’s “connected” population would be almost exclusively reliant on mobile devices to access the world-wide-web?

In this week’s discussion, Tefo Mohapi and Andile Masuku chat about some of what’s changed (or hasn’t) in the mobile phone technology space over the last decade and a half, and ponder what innovations we should expect to see emerge as we sail into a future which promises ever more technological advancement.

e-magination

Also in this week's African Tech Round-Up, all the week's biggest digital tech and innovation news:

  • Suspects nabbed in illegal South African government order scam,
  • A University of Pretoria post-graduate student wins a prize for a clever asthma attack predictor, and
  • Nigeria plans to deploy aerial drones in effort to combat oil theft at its ports.