What to expect from MWC Shanghai
With the world’s biggest device makers, network operators and chipset manufacturers set to gather under the same roof, we wanted to give you a primer for what to expect from the big event.
The flip-able foldable and fashionable phone gimmicks continue
It seems like every device maker under the sun released some gimmicky play on a foldable smartphone at MWC19 in Barcelona earlier this year. And that trend is more than likely to continue in China.
Oppo has been teasing an under-display camera for a while, and they seem ready to promo it to the public in the coming week. As far as gimmicks go, this one is pretty slick. The camera is built, as the name suggests, under the front screen — it’s hidden to the naked eye behind the display. Need a bit of a teaser? Look no further:
In the spirit of MWC19 Barcelona, Vivo is rumored to be working on their first 5G enabled device. In an interview with India Tech Today, Nipun Marya, Director of Brand Strategy admitted as much, noting the importance of competition in the 5G device space “ We are evaluating the market and as soon as we believe the market is ready for a 5G phone, we will certainly be among the first few brands to launch it in India.”
5G hype bubble will continue to grow
In the spirit of MWC19 Barcelona just a few months ago, the 5G hype bubble is bound to continue to grow. The GSMA Director General, Mats Granryd — who will, conveniently, be presenting a keynote in Shanghai — has previously noted that “[5G] is more than just a generational step; it represents a fundamental transformation of the role that mobile technology plays in society.”
With lofty comments like that, it’s no wonder that major observers have touted 5G’s potential to actualize wild pipedream use cases for IoT device makers and to reshape how rural communities engage with mobile connectivity.
This conversation is bound to continue at the conference, where experts from mobile operators, chipset and device manufacturers and various industry leaders will be meeting to discuss how to make 5G a reality. With China’s growing influence on the 5G market both domestically and abroad, this venue will be a defining moment for key players to literally be in the same room as one another.
Expect a sobering discussion about the role of China in the global telecommunications space
Many of the speaker sessions at MWC19 will go beyond waxing poetic with wild predictions about the infinite capacity of 5G and be pushed to reckon with the less than subtle role of China in the global telecommunications landscape.
With the very public battle between Huawei and respective world governments, to China’s involvement in global 5G infrastructure, to the ongoing China/USA trade war and its impact on chipmakers, it will be almost impossible to ignore the elephant in the room — especially considering that the leaders of China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom are all at the top of the Keynote panel for the conference.
MWC19 will put China’s biggest names in telecommunications space in the same room as policymakers, regulators and other global telecommunications moguls. If the last few months have been any indication, it’s hard to say where the conversation will go — but one can be sure it’s going to happen. And what is said will likely have massive implications on the future of the telecommunications industry at large.
We’ll be there too!
Those are just a few of the things you can expect to see at MWC19 in Shanghai. All things considered, we are undoubtedly entering the era of intelligent connectivity — where speed, convenience, and intelligence converge; inspiring innovations that keep us connected to everything and everyone. From gimmicky phones to 5G hype, to policy discussion, we’ll be right there to experience it all, too.
If you’d like to join us at our booth in hall N1, to discover how intelligent connectivity will shape the future of our digital experiences, our industry, and our world.
