Mobile third quarter 2014: analysis and outlook

1. Summary

It started quietly, but the closing weeks of the third quarter were as eventful as ever in the mobile industry. Softbank ended its pursuit of T-Mobile, leading to a flurry of speculation about who might finally acquire the nation’s fourth largest carrier. In the wake of the failed deal, Sprint looked to new leadership in an effort to reverse course, while T-Mobile continued to build on its growing momentum. Meanwhile, manufacturers and developers stepped up their efforts to crack open the market for wearables, and Apple closed out the quarter by introducing two new iPhone models and a long-awaited mobile payments initiative.

Other highlights from the quarter include:

• BlackBerry revamped its strategy and launched the Passport in an effort to appeal to hardcore business users rather than mainstream consumers.
• The tablet market slowed, due partly to the increasingly popularity of phablets and a longer replacement cycle than handsets. Growth opportunities still exist, however, for manufacturers and developers that focus on larger devices aimed squarely at entertainment or productivity.
• Developers of consumer mobile applications are struggling to bring attention to their wares in the massive warehouses of the App Store and Google Play. Marketing is more important than ever for developers, but the enterprise market remains relatively untapped and presents an opportunity for developers looking for growth.

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