The Counterpoint Podcast

Software-defined vehicles (SDVs) are increasingly playing a crucial role in automakers' product evolution. From consolidating hardware to providing regular software updates and the necessary compute power for future applications such as autonomous driving and digital cockpits, the SDV will become a defining enabler.In this latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Murtuza Ali is joined by Benjamin Lyon, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Aptiv, a global technology firm and automotive supplier. The conversation dives into Aptiv's software platform and service offering, which are enabling the SDV for automotive OEMs.Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@counterpointresearch/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/counterpointresearch/

The European regulatory landscape is changing, and a key focus is on sustainability. As part of this, the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requires companies to publish regular reports and how their activities impact the environment. Larger companies are already doing this, but from 1st January 2026, smaller companies will also be required to submit reports. For some this will not be an easy task, so for this podcast we talk to Francis D'Souza from Banyan.eco, who is helping companies meet the requirements.Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@counterpointresearch/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/counterpointresearch/

IoT connectivity is starting to play a crucial role in connecting devices to the internet. From remotely controlling smart home appliances and devices like smart meters to even monitoring industrial machines, IoT applications are proliferating. With the stellar rise of AI, edge computing is enabling even faster decision making. In this latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Mohit Agrawal is joined by Kenta Yasukawa, Co-Founder and CTO of Soracom, a global cellular IoT connectivity provider. The conversation dives into Soracom's focus areas, recent achievements, the landscape of cellular IoT connectivity, AI, and the company's  vision for the future of IoT.Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@counterpointresearch/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/counterpointresearch/

eSIM technology is seeing rapid growth. It is being adopted by OEMs in premium smartphones, smartwatches, and tablets, freeing up space for sleeker designs. In our previous podcasts, we spoke about the global eSIM market, innovative business models from various companies, eSIM testing, interoperability, and much more. In this latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', we look at eSIM opportunities in India, one of the fastest-growing markets in the world. Host Mohit Agrawal is joined by two Kigen officials – VP of Marketing Bee-Hayes Thakore and Regional VP Solutions Mayank Sharma. Kigen is among the companies named as leaders in Counterpoint's latest eSIM rankings. It is a fast-growing company, renowned across the industry for its eSIM enablement. Kigen also pioneered iSIM technology.Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@counterpointresearch/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/counterpointresearch/

Generative AI (GenAI) is emerging as a major trend in the tech industry, finding its way into the latest smartphones and PCs. However, on-device AI has been around for a few years now, and there is some confusion regarding the definition of a smartphone with AI and a GenAI smartphone.Counterpoint Research defines a GenAI smartphone as a mobile device that leverages large-scale, pre-trained generative AI models to create original content or perform context-aware tasks. We expect such devices to have multimodal capabilities, allowing them to process text, image, voice and other inputs to generate a variety of output and enable a user experience that is fluid and seamless. We also expect the hardware specifications of such devices to evolve as the technology advances. But at present, a device should have hardware capabilities that are comparable to or exceed the performance of current flagship smartphones to effectively run GenAI models.While GenAI technology appears promising, there are several questions in the industry. GenAI phones will need powerful hardware to run those large language models (LLMs), faster processing for inferencing, and more storage. Will these upgrades weigh on the smartphone pricing? Will GenAI phones cost more than regular phones? Could GenAI be the factor that will drive smartphone upgrades? We try to answer all these questions in this podcast.In this latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Mohit Agrawal is joined by Tarun Pathak, Research Director at Counterpoint Research, to talk about GenAI smartphones. We discuss our definition of GenAI smartphones, potential impact on pricing and upgrade cycle, role of chipmakers, OEM strategies and our forecast. In this discussion, we also touch upon hardware requirements, ecosystem players that are driving GenAI experiences, regional differences and much more.Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@counterpointresearch/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/counterpointresearch/

5G technology offers a significant leap over 4G, unlocking low-latency, high-upload and high-download speeds in today's connected era. But as we rely more on connectivity for new and immersive experiences for applications like Extended Reality (XR), connected cars and even generative AI applications, 5G Advanced will push the boundaries of what is possible.5G Advanced Release 18 is nearing completion with finalization expected in June 2024, whereas Release 19 is estimated to be completed in the second half of 2025. From massive network capacity to ultra-low latency and speeds, 5G Advanced enhances network performance, reduces energy consumption, which is good for sustainability, and brings new use cases like non-terrestrial network (NTN) integration.In the latest episode of The Counterpoint Podcast, host Gareth Owen is joined by Danny Tseng, Technical Director of Marketing at Qualcomm, to discuss 5G Advanced and current and future advancements in the 5G technology. The discussion focuses on how 5G Advanced will play a crucial role in network performance and energy efficiency, while also integrating new applications like IoT and AI. The conversation also briefly touches upon 6G and beyond.Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@counterpointresearch/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/counterpointresearch/

Continuing our eSIM podcast series, we talk to eSIM Plus, a worldwide virtual phone number and mobile data provider. It uses eSIM to overcome digital boundaries and offer comprehensive solutions. eSIM Plus offers a virtual phone number along with flexible mobile data plans tailored to the specific needs of both individuals and businesses.Addressing both, previous slower-than-expected growth and current stable growth, eSIM Plus seeks to catapult customers into a new era of mobile connectivity based on vast global reach, adaptable solutions, and local pricing for global connectivity. The price and convenience of deployment will improve the user experience and serve as the foundation for an Always Connected society.In this latest Counterpoint podcast, host Ankit Malhotra is joined by Dina Tsybulskaya, CEO of eSIM Plus, to delve into how eSIM Plus plans to go beyond present-day connectivity. The discussion how it is forming synergies between critical sectors like Finance and Telecom to support advanced technologies like Cryptocurrency and leverage the power of blockchain for efficient operations. Dina also emphasizes integrating eSIM with satellite services, disrupting the existing network core and shifting towards global balancing of prices.Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@counterpointresearch/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/counterpointresearch/

Continuing our eSIM podcast series, this time we talk to Thales, one of the eSIM provisioning landscape leaders according to Counterpoint's CORE report. Being in the industry for over 30 years, Thales has played a foundational role in organizations like Trusted Connectivity Alliance (TCA). Thales also deployed the world's first GSMA-certified eSIM activation solution on Google Cloud.Thales adopts a hybrid architecture, combining the benefits of public cloud and private cloud for operational excellence and security. It also offers a wide range of activation methods for the consumer market, thus enhancing the end-user journey through various channels. Thales' strategic focus is on providing eSIM services with a comprehensive portfolio, addressing both consumer and IoT markets, eSIM discovery service, real-time profile adaptation and supply chain optimization.In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Ankit Malhotra is joined by Pascal Di Girolamo, Marketing Director at Thales, to talk about eSIM innovations, digital security and more that Thales is working on. The conversation dives into the challenges faced by the eSIM industry, including the need for enhanced customer awareness and a seamless transition from M2M to IoT. Pascal also emphasizes the importance of certification and collaboration with partners like Qualcomm, and much more.Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@counterpointresearch/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/counterpointresearch/

The launch of the eSIM-only iPhone 14 in the US in 2022 was a landmark moment in eSIM growth and adoption. In our previous podcast series, we talked to experts about eSIM testing, interoperability, and how component shortages were leading to migration from physical SIM to eSIM. Continuing with the eSIM theme, we talked to Giesecke+Devrient (G+D), one of the leaders in Counterpoint's Global eSIM Scorecard.G+D has a long 170-year history going from banknote security to becoming a leading eSIM technology innovator. We discuss G+D's pioneering role in delivering the world's first commercial SIM card and its subsequent leadership in eSIM solutions. The conversation also highlights eSIM complexities, emphasis on education, industry collaborations for streamlined adoption, and future trends, including IoT advancements with SGP.32.In this latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Mohit Agrawal is joined by Sören Haubold, Head of Market Intelligence and Analyst Relations at G+D to discuss G+D's journey, the early days of eSIM introduction, subscription management, and testing. They also touch upon the inflection point of the eSIM-only iPhone 14, and more.Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@counterpointresearch/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/counterpointresearch/

Qualcomm recently hosted its annual Snapdragon Summit in Maui, Hawaii, where it made several interesting announcements. AI, more specifically on-device generative AI, was a key theme. Qualcomm demonstrated the AI-on-edge capabilities on both smartphone and laptop reference designs, and they were impressive.Key announcements included the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 mobile platform, and the all-new Snapdragon X Elite compute platform powered by Oryon CPU cores. Qualcomm also announced the S7 and S7 Pro Gen 1 sound platforms, with the Pro version adding the XPAN feature for streaming audio using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Lastly, we also saw Snapdragon Seamless, a technology to link multiple devices across OEMs and multiple operating systems for audio and peripherical connectivity and file transfer.In the latest episode of “The Counterpoint Podcast”, Research Director Tom Kang and VP of Research Neil Shahdiscuss their key takeaways from the Snapdragon Summit 2023. They touch upon the industry's transformation towards AI-driven experiences, partnerships, the reduced gap between chipset release and chipset adoption, and much more.  Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@counterpointresearch/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/counterpointresearch/

Generative AI like ChatGPT and Google's Bard have disrupted the industry. However, they are still limited to browser windows and smartphone apps, where the processing is done through cloud computing. That is about to change soon as Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered devices will soon be able to run on-device generative AI. At MWC 2023, Qualcomm showcased Stable Diffusion on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-powered Android smartphone. The demo showed how a smartphone can generate a new image with text commands or even change the background, without connecting to the internet. Running generative AI apps directly on a device offers several advantages, including lower operational costs, better privacy, security, and reliability of working without internet connectivity. In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Peter Richardson is joined by Qualcomm's Senior Vice President of Product Management Ziad Asghar to talk about on-device generative AI. The discussion covers a range of topics from day-to-day use cases to scaling issues for computing resources and working with partners and the community to unlock new generative AI experiences across the Snapdragon product line.           Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@counterpointresearch/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/counterpointresearch/

Generative AI has been a hot topic, especially after the launch of ChatGPT by OpenAI. It has even exceeded Metaverse in popularity. From top tech firms like Google, Microsoft and Adobe to chipmakers like Qualcomm, Intel, and NVIDIA, all are integrating generative AI models in their products and services. So, why is generative AI attracting interest from all these companies?While generative AI and ChatGPT are both used for generating content, what are the key differences between them? The content generated can include solutions to problems, essays, email or resume templates, or a short summary of a big report to name a few. But it also poses certain challenges like training complexity, bias, deep fakes, intellectual property rights, and so on.In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Maurice Klaehne is joined by Counterpoint Associate Director Mohit Agrawal and Senior Analyst Akshara Bassi to talk about generative AI. The discussion covers topics including the ecosystem, companies that are active in the generative AI space, challenges, infrastructure, and hardware. It also focuses on emerging opportunities and how the ecosystem could evolve going forward.Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@counterpointresearch/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/counterpointresearch/

As more and more carmakers are now introducing electric vehicles (EVs), the battery and its charging and safety have gained the utmost importance. Counterpoint Research's data shows EV sales crossed 10 million units in 2022. And as more users and fleet owners consider EVs, be it passenger cars, taxis or even electric trucks, the range anxiety and charging infrastructure are where many are held back. So, what are companies doing to address these issues?In a discussion with Qnovo, a company that specializes in developing intelligent lithium-ion battery management software, we gained some interesting insights on how it improves the battery performance in EVs. The desired user experience, be it charging or performance that replicates internal combustion engines, is essential for EV adoption. But how are carmakers and battery companies working together to deliver the best experience? In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Jeff Fieldhack is joined by Qnovo CEO Nadim Maluf to talk about the intelligent battery platform and more. They discuss topics including EVs, battery charging and performance, safety and much more. The discussion also focuses on Qnovo's technology implementation beyond EVs.Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@counterpointresearch/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/counterpointresearch/

2022 was a landmark year for the eSIM ecosystem. eSIM adoption has accelerated around the world and is now rapidly moving towards becoming the preferred mode of connectivity. Consumer interest in eSIM is at an all-time high, profile downloads have increased exponentially and newer players are entering the market – all signs of an ecosystem on the rise. Most premium smartphones now come with an embedded SIM (eSIM) as it is more advantageous than a physical SIM for OEMs, operators and consumers. We've already seen an eSIM-only iPhone 14 in September last year. It is possible that in the coming years, most premium smartphones may not have a physical SIM at all. But it is not just smartphones, even companion devices like tablets, smartwatches and other IoT devices are now adopting eSIM. However, because eSIMs are not removable like physical SIMs, testing for profile suitability and interoperability becomes extremely important.But how does eSIM testing work? What is the process? Which companies help in such testing? We discuss all that and more in our podcast with Comprion, which is a German company that specializes in eSIM testing. In the latest episode of “The Counterpoint Podcast,” host Ankit Malhotra is joined by Marcus Dormanns, Director of Product Management and Business Development at Comprion. The discussion touches on several topics including the technical process of testing an eSIM, interoperability with different network providers, the time taken for testing, and more.     Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@counterpointresearch/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/counterpointresearch/

At CES 2023, HERE Technologies unveiled UniMap, an automated mapping technology that allows customers to create their own personal maps and customize location services. It uses AI models to automate the processing of vehicle probes and sensor data to validate speed limits, extract map features like 2D and 3D positioning of road signs and much more.With more vehicles gaining autonomous features, UniMap also aligns standard definition (SD), high definition (HD), and Advanced-Driver-Assistance System (ADAS) to offer seamless access to navigation data. Customers also get quick access to unified map data that is refreshed in hours, minutes, and even seconds. The data is easily accessible at any time of the day because it is all saved in a single environment. In this podcast, many other unique features of the UniMap platform are discussed in detail.In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Peter Richardson is joined by Vice President of Product and Technology at HERE Technologies, Remco Timmer, and Counterpoint's Research Analyst Mohit Sharma to talk about UniMap. The podcast weaves through various topics like the use cases of UniMap, the industry sectors that can benefit from this new mapping solution, and much more.Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@counterpointresearch/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/counterpointresearch/

The automotive industry is undergoing a massive digital transformation as the concept of CASE (connected, autonomous, shared, electrical) is gaining traction. And as the number of connected vehicles increases, data logging, remote diagnostics, and over-the-air (OTA) software updates become more important.      With the Deep Connected Platform from Sibros, a Silicon Valley-based company, vehicle manufacturers and fleet owners can perform OTA software updates without many hassles. The Deep Updater can be configured for over 80 components and controllers in the vehicle. Similarly, the Deep Logger can collect event-driven data and transmit diagnostics so a service engineer can remotely track down a technical issue.     In the latest episode of The Counterpoint Podcast, host Matthew Orf is joined by Sibros CEO and co-founder Hemant Sikaria and research analyst Fahad Siddiqui to talk about OTA software updates for connected cars and more. The podcast explores how Sibros is helping OEMs and fleet owners with software and data solutions, and how OTA updates can avoid massive recalls and much more.Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@counterpointresearch/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/counterpointresearch/

As China is opening its borders and quickly getting back to business after over three years of COVID-19 lockdowns and other curbs, we recently conducted an offline customer-sharing meeting in Shenzhen. It was great to see everyone after a long time and share our insights. The developing trends and China's premium smartphone market outlook were the most discussed topics.The country's smartphone market has become quite saturated. While Chinese OEMs are releasing models with newer technologies, the consumer demand for smartphone upgrades is not as strong as before. Moreover, macroeconomics is another important factor affecting consumers' purchasing power and confidence. With such a scenario, OEMs are shifting their focus to premium devices to increase their ASPs (average selling prices).In the latest Mandarin episode of The Counterpoint Podcast, host Rick Cui is joined by Research Analysts Archie Zhang and Shenghao Bai. In this podcast, we touch upon several topics, such as Counterpoint's prediction for the Chinese smartphone market in 2023, the growing interest of OEMs in releasing foldable smartphones, and more. We also talk about how smartphone makers are focusing on self-developed chips and artificial intelligence (AI) among other areas of differentiation.Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@counterpointresearch/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/counterpointresearch/

This year's Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona proved to be a great success. At the event, which was held in earnest for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies introduced new products and technologies. With nearly 90,000 visitors, the event managed to regain its former vigor, excitement, and buzz.Networks and operators actively participated in MWC 2023 and introduced new technologies and solutions. The event also revealed industry players' aspirations to take the lead in 5.5G and 6G, and the telecommunication companies' concerns about monetization.Another noteworthy point was the remarkable presence of Chinese companies. In particular, Chinese companies including Huawei, HONOR, OPPO, and TECNO introduced foldable smartphones, showing that the foldable market, which was formed with Samsung at the forefront, is blooming in earnest.In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', Counterpoint's Research Director Tom Kang and Associate Director Sujeong Lim, who participated in the event, discuss their takeaways from MWC 2023.Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@counterpointresearch/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/counterpointresearch/

An increasing number of smartphone OEMs are now approaching sustainability by removing plastic from packaging, using more recycled materials, and making the devices more repairable. But have you ever wondered what happens to these devices once they reach the end of their useful life?We now live in a circular economy where the focus is on reducing waste by repairing and reusing smartphones and components. As we celebrate Global Recycling Day today (March 18), let us discuss e-waste management. Companies like Closing the Loop offer an e-waste recycling service called waste compensation. The approach is simple – for every new device added to the market, you collect one end-of-life device which is then properly recycled.In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Jan Stryjak is joined by Andrea Scholz, Senior Sustainability Manager in the Consumer Business Unit at Vodafone Germany, and Joost de Kluijver, Founder and Director at Closing the Loop, to discuss how Vodafone Germany and Closing the Loop are working together on a one-for-one program, e-waste management and much more.Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@counterpointresearch/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/counterpointresearch/

The eSIM has been around for a while now, and thanks to Apple it is now going mainstream. But when it comes to the IoT domain, there are several bottlenecks with respect to deployment, connectivity and migration. A few months ago, we spoke about SIM shortages and eSIM migration with Olivier Leroux from Oasis Smart-SIM. Now we have Olivier back on the show to discuss a new solution called CloudSIM™.  CloudSIM™ is a remote hardware SIM which is stored in a dedicated, secure and GSMA-certified environment. It is primarily aimed at use cases that do not require permanent connectivity. CloudSIM™ is scalable, interoperable and easy to deploy. In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Neil Shah is joined by Olivier Leroux, President and Founder of Oasis Smart-SIM, to talk about the new architecture called CloudSIM™. The discussion covers eSIM bottlenecks from the architecture point of view and how CloudSIM™ will meet those challenges, the solution's use cases, how it complements eSIM, and much more.Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@counterpointresearch/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/counterpointresearch/

The macro-environment saw a rollercoaster ride in 2022, one where our Counterpoint Macro Index dropped from 106.17 to 82.88 between January and November. Several factors contributed to the decline, such as the war in Ukraine, high inflation, the possibility of a global economic recession, and China's strict COVID-Zero policies.Besides, interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve not only slowed economic growth but also strengthened the US dollar, the effects of which were particularly painful in emerging markets. Technology firms that were previously thriving had to resort to mass layoffs, spending cuts and downward earnings guidance in preparation for a bleak economic outlook.Moving into 2023, which of those macro risks will remain, and which new risks should the tech firms watch out for? Counterpoint Research analysts have voted on the top 10 macro risks that companies should pay close attention to.In the latest episode of The Counterpoint Podcast, host Matt Orf is joined by Senior Analyst Yang Wang, based in Europe, and Research Analyst Archie Zhang, based in China. We bring on-the-ground and unique insights into the macro risks that cannot be ignored. The topics discussed in the podcast range from economic issues such as energy crisis and a potential global economic recession to geopolitical and political issues such as the US-China showdown and developments in US domestic politics.Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@counterpointresearch/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/counterpointresearch/

When we formed Counterpoint a decade ago, our passion and mission were to provide the best, in-depth insights, data, and advisory services for the technology industry. We considered mobile connectivity and devices to be pivotal to the massive digital transformation underway. We wanted to help companies make better and more informed decisions to enable them to offer the best experiences to billions of users.As we celebrate our 10th anniversary and reflect on engagements with hundreds of companies from among the largest to start-ups, we believe we should also play our part in giving back to society by helping to connect those who are not yet connected to the internet and to help them transform their lives.Our analysts are in a great position to utilize our diverse geographic footprint, knowledge, and excellent networks to create awareness, influence the industry, and volunteer to support underserved populations, such as children, women, and the displaced or otherwise overlooked communities, in getting internet connectivity. Data connectivity can unlock access to education, employment, healthcare, real-time communication, financial services, and more.As a first step towards this goal, we are excited to partner with Unconnected.org, a UK-based non-profit founded in 2019 by tech industry veterans with a vision and goal to connect an additional 100 million people to the internet. We aim to closely work with Unconnected.org and NGOs on different projects around the world to spread awareness, volunteer, and attract donors.In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Jan Stryjak is joined by our VP of Research, Neil Shah, and Unconnected.org Chief Commercial Officer Mea Thompson. The discussion throws some light on why this is important, what Unconnected.org is doing, and how our partnership can help connect the unconnected!Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMg5uHXDVM71UTF-lE_e--g/

The COVID-19-led semiconductor shortage disrupted the supply chains of several industries. The shortage also accelerated lead times for key components such as chipsets, DDIs & PMICs that power all electronics around us. While the auto sector was heavily affected, telecom operators were also struck due to the lack of physical SIM cards as SIM plants shifted their production to higher-value technologies.With no significant CapEx investment in mature nodes, SIM shortage means telcos cannot activate new subscriptions, potentially losing customers and market share. And while mobile network operators have been resistant to moving to eSIM, the eSIM is still gathering pace. Premium flagship smartphones from Samsung and Apple come with one physical SIM slot and one eSIM. Even the latest iPhone 14 series in the US ditches the physical SIM slot altogether and comes with eSIM-only capabilities.With component shortages expected to continue until 2023, how do the mobile network operators reorganize their supply chain and forecast SIM needs in advance? We discuss all this and more in the podcast.In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Peter Richardson is joined by Counterpoint's Senior Analyst William Li, and Olivier Leroux, President and Founder of Oasis Smart-SIM to talk about how the telecom industry is dealing with disruptions due to semiconductor shortage. We also discuss the real impact of SIM shortage and the development of eSIM to mitigate some of these issues.Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMg5uHXDVM71UTF-lE_e--g/

Southeast Asia, one of the world's most promising markets, saw its smartphone shipments decline in Q2 2022. But despite this, Thailand's premium smartphone market grew 22% YoY, confirming a key trend in the overall Southeast Asian market. Other key trends in the region include the growth of gaming and 5G smartphones.    Rising inflation and reduced consumer spending are resulting in a lengthening smartphone replacement cycle. So, how are OEMs navigating this trend with different financial schemes, easy upgrades, cashbacks and more? 5G smartphone shipments in Southeast Asia markets are also growing, so how are operators geared up for rolling out 5G services and demonstrating their use cases?   In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Tarun Pathak is joined by Senior Analysts Febriman Abdillah and Glen Cardoza to discuss the key trends in the Southeast Asia smartphone market. From falling shipments to H2 2022 outlook, 5G and online vs offline, we discuss all this and more in the podcast.  Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMg5uHXDVM71UTF-lE_e--g/

The global semiconductor components shortage has been in the news since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trade tensions between the US and China further upset the normal supply situation and the automotive sector was among the high-profile casualties. Chip manufacturers addressed the supply-demand issue by increasing capacity.Then, there is the Russia-Ukraine conflict which has added further uncertainties with respect to some raw materials that are required for semiconductor manufacturing. The geopolitical issues are also creating macroeconomic headwinds, leading to a drop in overall demand. Will an increase in capacity lead to an oversupply situation?In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Peter Richardson is joined by Research Director Dale Gai, and Senior Analyst Ashwath Rao to talk about the foundry market update. In this discussion, we talk about the foundry inventory correction cycle, the role of wafer fab equipment makers in the supply chain, the future of process node and packaging technologies, and much more. Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMg5uHXDVM71UTF-lE_e--g/

The consumer demand for high-speed home broadband continues to grow at a rapid pace as companies adopt the hybrid working culture. Even personal content consumption has increased, be it for music and video streaming, gaming or other applications. And as billions of consumers across the globe continue to wait for reliable home broadband, Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) in conjunction with 5G is proving to be a great solution for last-mile connectivity.In our previous podcast in 2020, we discussed why FWA is a killer app for 5G in helping bridge the digital divide. It's nearly two years since, and there have been some developments with increased FWA deployments. From factors driving the growth of FWA to prices of CPE (Customer Premises Equipment) and how the ecosystem is changing with geopolitics, we discuss all this in the podcast.    In the latest episode of the ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Jan Stryjak is joined by Senior Analysts Tina Lu and Parv Sharma to talk about the key trends in the Fixed Wireless Access space. We have also covered the 5G vs 4G FWA subscription forecast, factors that are holding back the growth of FWA in certain regions, and more. Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMg5uHXDVM71UTF-lE_e--g/

Private Networks, especially in relation to 5G, were one of the hot topics of discussion at the Mobile World Congress (MWC 22) in Barcelona earlier this year. They have been gaining momentum with deployments across different scenarios such as manufacturing and mining, and for connecting devices like smart meters and sensors. Private Networks also have several other use cases that require high-quality and secure communication environments, such as ports, logistics, and transportation to name a few.We recently published a report on Private Networks highlighting how major vendors such as Nokia and Ericsson are now selling network equipment to enterprises and bypassing the operators. There are also new entrants, including hyper scalers offering simplified solutions and reducing entry barriers for enterprises. We have also highlighted key trends, market drivers, and challenges in the report, and have discussed some of them in this podcast.In the latest episode of the ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Peter Richardson is joined by Research Director Gareth Owen and Research Analyst Charu Paliwal to talk about Private Networks. The discussion focuses on some of the case studies and key deployments, spectrum availability, and challenges for private 5G networks among others.Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMg5uHXDVM71UTF-lE_e--g/

Refurbished smartphones are cost-effective alternatives for consumers looking to save money when buying a smartphone. Apple and Samsung are the top brands in this secondary smartphone market, allowing users to purchase a flagship smartphone at a much lower cost. Shipments for the global refurbished smartphone market grew 4.5% YoY in 2021.Volumes also witnessed 15% growth according to Counterpoint Research's Global Refurb Smartphone Tracker. Factors such as attractive trade-in programs, consumer awareness of sustainability, and certified pre-owned smartphones have led to this growth.In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Maurice Klaehne is joined by Research Director Jeff Fieldhackand Senior Research Analyst Glen Cardoza to discuss the refurbished smartphone market. The insightful discussion focuses on key topics highlighting the refurbished market performance in 2021, key regions contributing to the growth, and key OEMs. We also touch upon topics like geopolitics, sustainability, the right to repair movement, and much more.Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMg5uHXDVM71UTF-lE_e--g/

Modern cars now feature an array of advanced digital technologies such as ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) that offer things like lane assist, adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, and more. And as things progress towards the next level of autonomous driving, the digital cockpit will play a crucial role in unlocking future connected car experiences.  Besides offering personalized experiences and seamless connectivity to drivers and passengers, a digital cockpit will also enhance driver safety.But who are the key players in the automotive industry that are offering the technology stack to power these new experiences? What does Qualcomm's announcement of its Digital Chassis mean for automakers? And lastly, what are EV (electric vehicle) makers doing to improve range, build more fast-charging stations, and integrate new battery chemistries?In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Maurice Klaehne is joined by analysts Soumen Mandal and Mohit Sharma for an insightful discussion on autonomous and electric vehicles (EVs). The discussion also touches on connected cars, touchscreen infotainment systems with guided maps, ADAS and more. At the end of the podcast, Soumen and Mohit also talk about the key trends they are seeing in the automotive industry.    Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMg5uHXDVM71UTF-lE_e--g/

Smartphones have become a big part of our daily lives. From advanced processing power to vivid high-refresh-rate displays and stunning cameras, there is a lot that modern smartphones offer. But whether you are at home, in office, or traveling, it is the battery that decides your smartphone's ability to communicate, complete a transaction, or click photos at any given time.Smartphone battery technology has evolved over the years. Smartphones now pack higher capacity batteries along with faster charging speeds and more. But when choosing a smartphone, the only available battery capacity information is the mAh (or milliamp hours) number, which is not enough. So, what are the other battery parameters that one should look for when buying a new smartphone? In the latest episode of the ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Peter Richardson is joined by special guest Olivier Simon, DXOMARK's battery unit director. Olivier shares some insights on DXOMARK's smartphone battery evaluation, factors that affect battery life, and more. Olivier further deep dives to explain what mAh and watt mean and how do they translate into the experience when it comes to smartphone battery life. He also has some tips for OEMs on how to design smartphones keeping the battery aspect in mind. For consumers too, he has some advice on how to buy a smartphone with a battery life that fits their needs. Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMg5uHXDVM71UTF-lE_e--g/

It is always interesting to talk about the future. But in the absence of any magical crystal ball, getting your prediction right needs experience, vision and good judgment. Now, a lot has changed over the past couple of years, with the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic driving some new use cases of technologies. Many of these use cases will shape the digital future. These two years have seen the fall of big smartphone brands like LG and Huawei, even as the pandemic-triggered pent-up demand helped boost other OEMs' sales. COVID-19 has also caused semiconductor shortages across industries. Then there are geopolitical issues that are expected to slow down some technological advancements while accelerating others. We discuss all this and more in this special edition of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast' that focuses on our tech predictions for the next decade and beyond. Host Peter Richardson is joined by Tom Kang and Neil Shah to discuss some of the disruptive technology trends that we will see in the future. Partners at Counterpoint and friends, Tom, Peter and Neil share their views on 6G, smart glasses, foldables, OEM strategies, mobile network operators, quantum computing, tech cold war, and much more. Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMg5uHXDVM71UTF-lE_e--g/

As home security solutions such as security cameras are now used in several households, there is an increasing need for AI (Artificial Intelligence) inferencing at the edge. Typically, the security solution relies on machine learning models to identify objects or faces in the CCTV footage – for example differentiating between a cat and a human. The data is then sent to the cloud for analysis and sent back to the device. But this can be problematic when there is poor internet connectivity. Ergo, a tiny 7x7mm AI chip from a company called Perceive, aims to solve issues with AI inferencing at the edge. The chip enables rapid processing on edge devices, for example facial recognition, or alerting to certain sounds, such as glass breaking or a dog barking. This can trigger actions without resorting to cloud-based systems. This type of solution can also offer enhanced data security and user privacy, as the data does not leave the device. The edge AI inference chips can be used in connected devices such as smart speakers as well, where many commands can be processed on the device, rather referring to the cloud. There can be many other applications in the future including drones, autonomous vehicles, and much more.  In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Peter Richardson is joined by David McIntyre, VP of Marketing at Perceive. David talks about AI inferencing at the edge using a tiny chip called Ergo. He deep dives into problems solved by inferencing on edge devices over the cloud, use cases, and savings made related to space onboard, costs and power. The podcast discussion also focuses on potential applications where solutions like Perceive's Ergo chip can be used. Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMg5uHXDVM71UTF-lE_e--g/

The global smartphone market has been through a bumpy ride during the last couple of years — US sanctions on Huawei, COVID-19, ongoing component shortages and LG's exit to name a few. Some smartphone makers, such as Huawei, LG and Samsung, have been impacted more than others by these events. At the same time, Chinese smartphone makers like Xiaomi, OPPO, vivo and OnePlus have benefited from the events by filling the void.The US postpaid market is heavily dominated by Apple and Samsung, whereas the prepaid market has players like Nokia HMD, Motorola and Alcatel. LG's exit from the market has opened opportunities for others. Similarly, in the absence of Huawei, Xiaomi has been dominating in Europe, driven by CIS markets. It also briefly surpassed Samsung to become the top smartphone vendor globally. OPPO, realme and vivo are also gaining share in Europe, China, India and the SEA. The MEA market is also getting interesting where Transsion Group's TECNO, itel and Infinix are gaining share.In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Maurice Klaehne is joined by senior analysts Harmeet Singhwalia and Aman Chaudhary to discuss the changing dynamics of the global smartphone market. The discussion deep-dives into different regions, from the US to Europe, Asia, SEA and MEA, to highlight the top smartphone vendors and their strategies.Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMg5uHXDVM71UTF-lE_e--g/

Mobile handsets have evolved with every new cellular generation, both in terms of form factor and capabilities. From advanced photography and videography to high-speed internet connectivity and the console-like mobile gaming experience, all these capabilities are unlocked by the system on chip (SoC). Qualcomm is the leading SoC company globally and is driving these advanced technologies and smart entertainment experiences across various devices, form factors and price tiers. In these ‘work and learn from home' times, on-device AI enabled by the SoC is playing a crucial role. From adding background blur to photos and videos to making you look good, and canceling ambient background noise to optimizing the cellular signal strength and battery life, there are a lot many AI capabilities that SoCs deliver. As OEMs employ these intelligence and feature-packed SoCs in their devices, they strive to deliver the best and advanced experiences. Fast-growing OEMs like Xiaomi are working closely with Qualcomm to leverage AI and other features of the Snapdragon 7- and 8-series platforms and bring intelligent experiences to the end users.In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Neil Shah is joined by Kedar Kondap, Vice-president of Product Management at Qualcomm, and Adam Zeng, Senior Vice-president of Xiaomi and President of Xiaomi Smartphone Department. Kedar shares some interesting insights into the AI capabilities of the latest flagship Snapdragon 888 Plus mobile platform, how Snapdragon Elite Gaming enhances mobile gaming, and the evolution of foldable form factors. Adam also talks about how Xiaomi as an OEM and a key partner, is leveraging the platform capabilities in terms of AI, 5G, camera and display R&D to bring the best experiences to its consumers. Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMg5uHXDVM71UTF-lE_e--g/

The geopolitical tensions between the US and China disrupted supply chains after sanctions against ZTE and Huawei. The global pandemic and lockdown restrictions further added to the woes, creating a supply-demand imbalance along with other challenges. As smartphone and PC makers, automobile companies and other businesses heavily rely on Taiwan, South Korea and China for critical components and manufacturing, there is a risk in having such a consolidated supply chain.  Manufacturers are now looking to diversify their supply chains to ensure events like COVID-19, natural disasters and geopolitical tensions don't cause disruption. To encourage domestic manufacturers to increase production, the Indian government has introduced the Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. It offers incentives to companies for increasing domestic production and reducing import bills. With this scheme, the government is also trying to position India as a critical electronics manufacturing hub.  The ongoing semiconductor shortage has also convinced the US that it too heavily relies on foreign manufacturing for domestic semiconductor needs. To overcome the issue and also protect its economy, the US government has also taken a similar approach as India to leverage its technological prowess in AI, semiconductor design, and more. It will be offering subsidies of up to $52 billion for chip manufacturing in the US.  In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Maurice Klaehne is joined by research analyst Priya Joseph and research associate Matthew Orf to discuss how geopolitical tensions have disrupted global supply chains. The discussion focuses on India's PLI scheme where Priya talks about its framework, major companies that are participating, and more. Matthew, on the other hand, talks about the Biden administration's efforts to review the supply chains for critical products, such as semiconductors, and touches upon the US Innovation and Competition Act of 2021 that was passed by the Senate recently. Follow us on social media platforms –Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMg5uHXDVM71UTF-lE_e--g/

Personal and home audio technology has greatly evolved over the years. We have moved from wired to mono Bluetooth and stereo wireless headphones to True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds. In the home audio segment, soundbars are becoming popular as they can deliver a great home theatre experience. But it is not just about the changing form factors, there have been improvements in audio delivery systems as well. Support for higher quality audio, such as lossless audio, is important in delivering music in its purest form. The TWS earbuds, in particular, include a lot of hardware and software features that enable Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), ambient awareness, and multiple mics to offer crisp call clarity. These features are quite helpful in the current work-from-home and learn-from-home scenarios. Also, 5G is here, enabling higher throughput and thus higher quality audio from streaming services like Tidal, Spotify, Amazon Music HD and Apple Music, which was not possible in the 3G and 4G era. So, why are these new technologies important in enhancing the audio listening experience? In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Peter Richardson is joined by Gyanendra Singh, Head of Audio Marketing for Sony India, to talk about trends in the audio space. Singh, with his 17 years of experience in Sony's audio department, shares his thoughts on high-res and other audio formats, how the COVID-19 pandemic has seen a surge in demand for audio products, and more. He also touches upon the home audio segment and how it is growing due to the pandemic-triggered restrictions on visiting cinema halls. Follow us on social media platforms – Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMg5uHXDVM71UTF-lE_e--g/

As India battles a more virulent second wave of COVID-19, lockdown-like restrictions have been imposed across several states. This has impacted several businesses and industries, including the country's smartphone market, which had registered record growth in Q1 2021 due to pent-up demand. With the restrictions on, the smartphone growth story has not continued in Q2 2021 as smartphones are not considered an essential category. The number of COVID-19 cases has come down from its peak in the last two weeks of May, bringing some respite. But how much of an impact has the second wave created on India's smartphone sales and manufacturing? There is also a looming uncertainty around a possible third wave in the next few months that could lead to another demand and supply disruption. In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Peter Richardson is joined by Research Director Tarun Pathak and Senior Analyst Prachir Singh. They discuss the current scenario in the Indian smartphone market, the global chip shortage, and how manufacturing capacity and inventory have been affected. The imbalance also raises questions about the forecast and outlook for 2021, where Prachir and Tarun have covered different scenarios and use cases that could guide the market this year. Follow us on social media platforms – Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMg5uHXDVM71UTF-lE_e--g/

The beginning of 2020 was quite challenging for the smartphone market after the COVID-19 outbreak, which resulted in lockdowns across several countries. However, things eased in the second half with pent-up demand driving smartphone sales. The momentum continued through Q1 2021, with the iPhone 12 and Samsung Galaxy S21 series doing well in the premium segment. Even the telecom operators offered great deals and trade-in offers that helped in ensuring better sales. Prices of prepaid 5G smartphones in the US have come down in just under two years. With promotional offers from operators, we are even seeing these devices available under $150. So, operators are going all out with their marketing budget to push sales. Talking about this mid-range segment, LG has announced its formal exit from the smartphone market, which will leave a void to be filled in. It creates an opportunity for other smartphone makers such as Samsung, Motorola, Alcatel and TCL to increase their share. In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Maurice Klaehne is joined by Research Director Jeff Fieldhack to talk about the US smartphone market, refurb channel, smartphone spec upgrades and more. The discussion highlights how the smartphone market is recovering after the COVID-19 impact, and touches upon the ongoing semiconductor chip shortage and its implications. Jeff also offers insights on how the prepaid and postpaid channels are performing, how 5G mobile broadband and home broadband are shaping up to ease work-from-home, and much more. Follow us on social media platforms – Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMg5uHXDVM71UTF-lE_e--g/

The South East Asia (SEA) smartphone market declined in the first half of 2020 due to COVID-19 lockdowns. But as the restrictions started to ease, OEMs were quick enough to focus on online channels to meet the pent-up demand. Online channels in Indonesia reached their highest point in Q4 2020, with brands like Xiaomi and realme leading online sales. Thailand's smartphone market also saw online channels registering strong growth, leading to only a marginal overall annual decline. In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Maurice Klaehne is joined by Senior Research Analyst Glen Cardoza to talk about the dynamics of SEA smartphone market and growth of online channels. With COVID-19 causing disruptions in the supply chain, smartphone makers have been recalibrating and diversifying production to reduce overreliance on China. But what makes the Philippines and Vietnam attractive options for smartphone makers to invest in? Glen shares some valuable insights on this topic and more. Follow us on social media platforms – Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/

We saw the first wave of 5G smartphone launches in H1 2019 with prices above $1,000. These premium smartphones gave way to a completely new pricing landscape in just around a year, with the most affordable 5G smartphone coming under $200 in China in 2020. Moving into 2021, we have the ongoing issue of component shortages across the semiconductor industry.  In our previous podcast, we discussed the auto sector's semiconductor shortage and how it may not ease until late 2021. But how will the chip and component shortage impact the smartphone market in 2021? Will we see the prices of 5G smartphones going down further or will they stabilize? While operators in the US are pushing for mmWave 5G, the other regions are mostly looking at Sub-6GHz. So, will Sub-6GHz 5G smartphones outsell the mmWave ones?  In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Peter Richardson is joined by Associate Director Brady Wang and Research Analyst Parv Sharma to discuss our growth outlook for 5G smartphones, expectations for 2021 and a lot more.  Follow us on social media platforms – Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted automobile sales in H1 2020. But as the demand started recovering in H2 2020, the semiconductor shortage crisis hit the automobile industry too. The chipset production capacity is already stretched by the rise in demand from smartphones and laptops due to work-from-home and learn-from-home. As a result, the semiconductor shortage faced by the automobile industry is unlikely to ease before late 2021. Some automakers have already been forced to slow down their car sales due to production delays.In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Peter Richardson is joined by Research Director Dale Gai to discuss the semiconductor chip shortage faced by the automotive sector. Dale weighs in on points like how the capex boost will not solve the shortage problem. He also shares his views on the foundry industry's revenue growth, and challenges and opportunities for Chinese semiconductor manufacturers like SMIC.  Follow us on social media platforms – Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/

With smartphones becoming ubiquitous, data security has come under the scanner. In particular, robust security is needed to use smartphones for activities like financial transactions and for unlocking our homes and cars. This is where embedded hardware security can help in storing user credentials securely in an environment called secure element (SE).Around 35% of the smartphones sold globally in H1 2020 had embedded hardware security,  according to the latest research from Counterpoint's Component Practice. Apple led with 39% market share, followed by Huawei, Qualcomm and Samsung. Currently, the secure element chips are mostly seen in premium smartphones, but we expect them to trickle down to the lower tiers. By 2025, over 50% of smartphones will have embedded hardware security. In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Maurice Klaehne is joined by research analyst Parv Sharma to discuss different types of secure elements in smartphones. The discussion also deep-dives into the embedded secure element (eSE), integrated secure element (inSE), and physically unclonable function (PUF). Follow us on social media platforms – Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/

Over the years, the size of the SIM card has shrunk from a credit card form factor to a size smaller than the index fingernail. But as we move into a more connected world with NB-IoT devices and foldable smartphones, the eSIM (or embedded SIM) is gaining popularity. The eSIM eliminates the need for having a physical SIM card slot, thus saving the board space for engineers, which can be used for other components. It has a wide range of applications, from smartphones and smartwatches to always-connected laptops and NB-IoT devices. In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Peter Richardson is joined by VP of Research Neil Shah and Senior Analyst Karan Dasaor to discuss types of eSIMs, top players in the industry, and more. The discussion also touches upon the impact of implementing eSIM on the BOM cost and benefits across the value chain. Follow us on social media platforms – Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/

Despite economic uncertainty that was created, the key takeaway from 2020 is that the smartphone market is resilient as there is a strong demand for it. There were interesting events that took place in 2020, where we saw the shift in channel where online sales have been growing. There were some geopolitical issues too where US sanctions on Huawei caused a major impact on the company. Huawei lost access to GMS for Play Store and lost access to TSMC for chipsets, among others.  At the start of the year, we were expecting 2020 to be a breakout year for 5G, and while we saw a lot of 5G phones launch, the uptick started only after the iPhone 12 launch. In just two weeks of launch, the iPhone 12 is now the world's number one 5G smartphone.  In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Peter Richardson is joined by Associate Director Tarun Pathak to talk about how 2020 shaped up amidst the coronavirus pandemic. We also discuss the important events that took place this year, brand strategies and more. Finally, we also share our outlook for 2021. Come, join us to listen to this in-depth podcast summarizing 2020. Follow us on social media platforms – Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/

With the COVID-19 pandemic, the world around us has changed with people working-from-home, and students learning-from-home. XR is all about offering users with an immersive experience, and standalone gaming could be one of the key drivers for the eXtended reality platform. With learning can be fun as explaining the concept of universe, chemistry and physics could be fun and exciting with virtual and augmented reality (AR). It could even benefit the manufacturing and healthcare sector among many other possibilities. In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Peter Richardson is joined by Research Analysts Karn Chauhan and Harmeet Singhwalia to share their perspectives on eXtended reality. We discuss the current developments in the XR industry, the limitations and future expectations. How will XR benefit with 5G coming in the picture? Will the rumored Apple glasses be the inflection point that the XR industry needs for mass adoption? All this and more, join us to listen in our latest podcast.  Follow us on social media platforms – Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/

Wearables come in different forms, from fitness bands to smartwatches. These devices have a unique proposition as they are worn on wrist. This enables the user to constantly monitor vital health parameters. Basic fitness trackers come with features like a pedometer, sleep monitor and heart rate sensor. The advanced ones include GPS and workout detection features to log cycling, skipping, squats and other forms of exercises. Smartwatches like the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch feature ECG, fall detection and LTE connectivity as well. In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Peter Richardson is joined by Senior Analyst Yang Wang and Research Analyst Ankit Malhotra to discuss wearables. The discussion touches upon how wearables are motivating users to get fitter, and how they are saving lives. We also talk about how OEMs can earn recurring revenues by offering additional services, and different partnerships that could help accelerate the adoption. Follow us on social media platforms – Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/

The gaming smartphones are more powerful than the regular flagship smartphones in terms of hardware, design and capabilities. In fact, popular features such as high refresh rate displays, vapour chamber cooling and dedicated gaming mode were first introduced in gaming smartphones. But what differentiates these special phones from regular flagship smartphones? And who are these phones meant for? We discuss all that and more in a podcast. In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Maurice Klaehne is joined by Dinesh Sharma, Business Head, Commercial PC and Smartphone, Asus India, to talk about gaming smartphones, mobile gaming, 5G, cloud gaming and much more. Follow us on social media platforms – Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/

AI is a broad definition that includes everything from statistical analysis to software to deep learning. Now, there are companies there are actually doing AI by pushing back the boundaries, and we call them practitioners. Then there are others that base their intelligence on statistics, that we call pretenders. There is also a third category called “tricksters” that do not do any AI at all. So, what is the percentage like for these companies? In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Peter Richardson is joined by Richard Windsor who is a research director at large at Counterpoint Research, and also the founder and owner of the research company, Radio Free Mobile. In this podcast, Richard deep dives into the challenges and shortcomings of artificial intelligence and deep learning. The discussion also touches upon how COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the development of AI, especially for sectors where the rule of the game changes with social distancing.  Follow us on social media platforms – Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/

There are different types of connected cars that are available in the market, from embedded TCUs to hybrid and smartphone-connected ones. Add-on connectivity features also open up new revenue streams for automakers. But which are the leading automakers in the connected cars market, what are the key drivers and which countries are leading the segment? We discuss all this and more in our latest podcast.In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Maurice Klaehne is joined by senior analyst Aman Madhok to talk about the connected cars market. Aman touches upon some interesting topics such as the type of network connectivity in connected cars, cockpit digitization and more. The discussion also highlights 5G in connected cars, autonomous vehicles, and growth expectations for the future. Follow us on social media platforms – Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/

In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Peter Richardson is joined by associate director Jan Stryjak to talk about the European smartphone market outlook. Jan shares some updates on COVID-19, and how the market has been performing. The discussion touches upon the gap that Huawei has created and smartphone makers that are benefitted from that. And lastly, Jan also talks about the new Apple iPhone 12 series and how it can give the much-needed boost to 5G in Europe.Follow us on social media platforms – Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/

The lockdown period brought upon the pent-up demand, and smartphone makers are coming up with aggressive marketing strategies to cater to the users. Aggressive pricing and innovative marketing strategies such as shopping through WhatsApp have helped smartphone makers bounce back. E-commerce platforms are also running promotional sales with discounts and more, which has further helped the growth. In the latest episode of ‘The Counterpoint Podcast', host Maurice Klaehne is joined by research associate Tanvi Sharma to talk about the SEA market. The discussion revolves around the impact of coronavirus on smartphone market, brand strategies and the shift from offline to online sales. The podcast episode also highlights how brands are re-calibrating and diversifying production to ensure minimal disruption if such a situation arises again. Follow us on social media platforms – Twitter – https://twitter.com/counterpointtrLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/counterpoint-technology-market-research/