Top 10 mobile technologies to watch out for in 2011

Gartner have revealed their list of the top 10 mobile technologies that companies should take note of and invest in in 2011. 

The report out this week highlights the pieces of technology which will “evolve in ways that affect corporate strategies, significant numbers of customers or employees will adopt or expect them, or will address particular mobile challenges that organizations will face." 

These technologies are set to adapted this year and will significantly change mobile policies and strategies in 2011. All types of businesses will be affected by the new technologies as they look to re-establish their policies post-recession.

There will be two new versions of Bluetooth out next year. Bluetooth 3 will enable faster data transmission, while Bluetooth 4 will include a new low-energy mode. Both will include technological improvements which will improve things like battery life and security. 

Another entry into the top 10 is the browser. By 2011 almost 85% of handsets shipped will include some kind of browser, while in mature markets 60% of the handsets shipped will be smartphones with sophisticated browsers. 

75% of devices shipped in these markets will include GPS, while Wi-Fi will remain important when GPS can't be used. Mobile platforms and mobile widgets will also become much more diverse and easily available but Gartner believe they will not yet have become consolidated. The rise in mobile widgets and applications will increase the prominence of app stores and Gartner expects many applications to "exploit the ecosystem cloud services". 

The report states that smartphones will come with bigger, higher resolution screens which will help mobile workers with their daily workload. Touch-screens are also in the top 10, with the analyst expecting 60% of mobile devices to be shipped with them next year. 

Other entrants include cellular broadband, device-independent security technology and machine-to-machine-based systems.