This April marks the 50th anniversary of the first mobile phone call. Considering that I didn’t get my first cell phone until my Marine Corps superiors told me I needed to be reachable “anytime… I mean, anytime,” the technology wasn’t that big of a deal. It seems hard to believe that it has existed for so long. But when Martin Cooper called from New York on April 3, 1973, he changed the world forever.
Who could have imagined what mobile phones would enable in 50 years? Wireless technology has the power to bring people together like never before, and the ongoing innovation continues to inspire me. With that in mind, here are his three trends predictions for 2023. These trends continue to evolve the way we use wireless devices on a daily basis.
Fixed wireless: Around this time last year, I talked about fixed wireless access (FWA) being a great option for home internet, especially in underserved areas. In 2022, FWA will displace cable as the main driver of broadband growth, with one report saying FWA accounted for his 80% of newly added home broadband over the past year.
In 2023, we predict that the trend will extend to the business world as well. For the same reasons, FWA is appealing to consumers, and its affordability, ease of use, and wide availability make it ideal for businesses as a primary line or low-cost backup option. As 5G coverage expands through 2023, more businesses will turn to wireless for reliable, uninterrupted connectivity.
Smartwatch integration: The arrival of the Samsung Galaxy Gear in 2013 and the Apple Watch in 2015 brought connected wearable technology to the mass market, making the integration of smartwatches and phones more seamless than ever in the past few years. The manufacturer has expanded its product line, so options are available at every price point. With watch sales in 2022 on pace to increase by more than two-thirds of his two years ago, it’s clear that customers are interested.
Calling, texting, getting directions, and playing music from your wrist, along with investments in features like sleep tracking and other biometrics, have helped the category grow to appeal to health-conscious users. In 2023, we expect smartwatch adoption to grow at a higher rate, especially among older generations. Because the watch will continue to add new features that provide real-time updates and allow users to manage their health.
Reset your relationship with technology: However, connections can become excessive. To connect more meaningfully, you need to disconnect. Until that point, a recent survey by UScellular found that 34% of people said they could take a break from their cell phones and 30% said they wanted to reduce their reliance on their phones, both up from last year. increase.
Whether it’s Apple’s Screen Time, Google’s Digital Wellbeing, or social media time limits per day, our devices have built-in ways to have a healthier relationship with technology.
Our mission at UScellular is to connect people to what matters most. Sometimes that means being with friends and family, not the device. Cell phones help us stay connected when we’re apart, but it’s important to stay healthy connected and balanced with our devices. By severing ties with the device, we predict that more efforts will be made to reset the relationship with the device.
Laurent “LT” Therivel is the President and CEO of UScellular.
