Has the smartphone died?

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The term "smartphone" is outdated and possibly even extinct, according to analyst firm Forrester Research.

As all mobile devices become much more intelligent, there is no need for such an obvious moniker, as it’s often outdated as soon as the next device comes to market, claimed Forrester analyst and report author Ian Fogg.

“Apple’s and Google’s arrival in the mobile market is causing knock-on effects throughout the market and is opening up opportunities. All mobile handsets are becoming smarter and internet-capable," he said.

"Yesterday’s smart high-end phone is today’s midrange phone and tomorrow’s entry-level phone. The 'smartphone' category is no longer useful as all phones become smart,” he added.

Forrester may want out with the term smartphone, but in its place it has three new pidgeon holes for mobiles: openness and extensibility, consumption and creation, and utility and entertainment.

To help existing players adapt to these potential new market conditions, Forrester offered up some advice.

Apple should focus on software advantage as well as ‘wow’ hardware, HTC must be less reliant on the software of others, Sony should opt for a UIQ replacement and keep it and LG and Samsung need to be less fragile strategically, according to the analyst.

What’s more, it suggested that Motorola needs to ensure its strategy is consistent, Microsoft needs to play the "long game," Nokia needs to get Symbian back on track, Google must build on Android’s momentum, and Palm needs to get married.

“All players in these markets must revise their consumer strategies. Central to this rethink must be an objective, unemotional analysis of whether they should stand and fight the mobile ecosystem or whether they should embrace it and join in,” added Fogg.

“The mobile market will remain fragmented with no single platform – no Windows PC equivalent – anytime soon on mobile devices.

Forrester’s report comes as the market gears up for the arrival of the Palm Pre, which follows the birth of the second generation Google Android handset, the HTC Magic. Read IT PRO’s review of the handset here.

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