Retailers in the UAE are preparing to stock up with phones equipped with so-called "4G" technology, as demand for high-speed internet on the go is set to explode.
Etisalat's launch of a 4G network - the fourth generation of mobile phone broadcast standards - will boost the availability of smartphones in the UAE, said retailers.
Consumers in the Emirates can expect to see more devices from big-name brands that will be capable of handling more data-intensive services such as streaming video.
"If the brands have them, we will have them definitely, if the likes of HTC, Samsung, Apple, RIM [have 4G phones already], there's no reason why we won't have them," said Ashish Punjabi, the chief operating officer of Jacky'sElectronics. "The products are there, it's just that if there wasn't any 4G here, there was no reason to introduce any 4G products here," said Mr Punjabi.
Dirk Busse, a mobile broadband solution architect at the telecoms infrastructure company Nokia Siemens Networks, said he expected "explosive" demand for 4G from UAE consumers.
"The latest figures show that there is over 200 per cent mobile penetration, so the logical next step is providing customers with super-fast broadband," he said.
Consumers can expect to see phones such as the HTC Inspire, which is 4G-compatible, available in the UAE. Fans of the iPhone may also be able to benefit from the network upgrade because the iPhone 5, which is expected to be launched next month, is rumoured to be 4G compatible.
However, 4G is a mode that can be switched on or off - as it is battery intensive because of the phone sending more data back and forth at faster speeds.
"It's nice to have, but you may not use it all the time," said Mr Punjabi. But he said all high-end or signature devices would eventually incorporate 4G, making the new type of phones more widely available in the market.
Existing 4G-enabled devices attract a premium in price. In the US, electronics manufacturer HTC charges US$499.99 (Dh1,834.95) for its EVO 4G phone.
Matthew Willsher, the chief marketing officer at Etisalat, said he expected the price of 4G smartphones to start relatively high compared with those compatible with the 3G networks.
Etisalat's 4G internet service will be delivered using long-term evolution (LTE) technology. "I would envisage that … prices for LTE devices will probably start at higher prices than 3G [handsets]. There are new components in there, and faster chipsets," he said. "But over time, the prices of those devices will come down."
The first devices to be compatible with Etisalat's 4G network will be computers, rather than mobile phones. This will be made possible with 4G "dongles" that plug into a laptop or desktop computers.
"At launch, the devices for the LTE network will be the USB dongle-type devices that will enable people's laptops, or desktops if they want them to, to access the network," said Mr Willsher.
Launch of 4G "dongles" in the UAE will be followed by compatible smartphones and tablets. "Over the next six months we'll start to see tablets arrive with LTE, and handsets arrive with LTE."
Ali Al Ahmad, the chief corporate communications officer at Etisalat, said the company's 4G network was "ahead" of the devices compatible with it.
"A company like Etisalat will encourage manufacturing of the devices," he said.
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bflanagan@thenational.ae
What should do investors do now?
What does the S&P 500's new all-time high mean for the average investor?
Should I be euphoric?
No. It's fine to be pleased about hearty returns on your investments. But it's not a good idea to tie your emotions closely to the ups and downs of the stock market. You'll get tired fast. This market moment comes on the heels of last year's nosedive. And it's not the first or last time the stock market will make a dramatic move.
So what happened?
It's more about what happened last year. Many of the concerns that triggered that plunge towards the end of last have largely been quelled. The US and China are slowly moving toward a trade agreement. The Federal Reserve has indicated it likely will not raise rates at all in 2019 after seven recent increases. And those changes, along with some strong earnings reports and broader healthy economic indicators, have fueled some optimism in stock markets.
"The panic in the fourth quarter was based mostly on fears," says Brent Schutte, chief investment strategist for Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company. "The fundamentals have mostly held up, while the fears have gone away and the fears were based mostly on emotion."
Should I buy? Should I sell?
Maybe. It depends on what your long-term investment plan is. The best advice is usually the same no matter the day — determine your financial goals, make a plan to reach them and stick to it.
"I would encourage (investors) not to overreact to highs, just as I would encourage them not to overreact to the lows of December," Mr Schutte says.
All the same, there are some situations in which you should consider taking action. If you think you can't live through another low like last year, the time to get out is now. If the balance of assets in your portfolio is out of whack thanks to the rise of the stock market, make adjustments. And if you need your money in the next five to 10 years, it shouldn't be in stocks anyhow. But for most people, it's also a good time to just leave things be.
Resist the urge to abandon the diversification of your portfolio, Mr Schutte cautions. It may be tempting to shed other investments that aren't performing as well, such as some international stocks, but diversification is designed to help steady your performance over time.
Will the rally last?
No one knows for sure. But David Bailin, chief investment officer at Citi Private Bank, expects the US market could move up 5 per cent to 7 per cent more over the next nine to 12 months, provided the Fed doesn't raise rates and earnings growth exceeds current expectations. We are in a late cycle market, a period when US equities have historically done very well, but volatility also rises, he says.
"This phase can last six months to several years, but it's important clients remain invested and not try to prematurely position for a contraction of the market," Mr Bailin says. "Doing so would risk missing out on important portfolio returns."
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Dir: Abby Kohn/Mark Silverstein
Starring: Amy Schumer, Michelle Williams, Emily Ratajkowski, Rory Scovel
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The%20specs
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TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs: Aston Martin DB11 V8 vs Ferrari GTC4Lusso T
Price, base: Dh840,000; Dh120,000
Engine: 4.0L V8 twin-turbo; 3.9L V8 turbo
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic; seven-speed automatic
Power: 509hp @ 6,000rpm; 601hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 695Nm @ 2,000rpm; 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.9L / 100km; 11.6L / 100km