A new study suggests that IoT devices will outstrip mobiles by 2018
The rise of connected devices and ‘smart’ cities means the number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices is set to outstrip mobile phones in less than two years. Ericsson’s Mobility Report suggests that of the 28 billion devices that will be in circulation by 2021,16 billion of them will have IoT capability. The report also highlighted a 127% rise in teenage use of cellular data for smartphone video, and revealed that smartphones were set to overtake traditional mobiles phones in a few months.

A new report suggests the proliferation of connected internet of things (IoT) devices will see mobile phones overtaken by IoT gadgets by 2018.

From 2015-2021, IoT devices are predicted to grow in number by almost one quarter each year. The cumulative effect of this will see them overtake mobile phones as the largest category of connected devices by 2018.

Within the mobile phone sphere, smartphones might finally overtake simpler phones by this autumn – basic mobile phones are still immensely popular in developing countries.

Ericsson’s ‘Mobility Report’ shows that 28bn connected devices will be circulating societies by 2021, those related to IoT will account for 16bn of them.

This is partly because so many cities are driving towards IoT futures, with smart metering, light systems and monitoring technology meaning growing numbers of sensors and Ss are needed for each device.

Another interesting finding is that teenage use of cellular data for smartphone video grew 127pc in just 15 months.

This comes after news last week that, in the US, one-third of new ‘cellular customers’ were cars. Smartphone proliferation has peaked, so new devices go to existing customers. Therefore, the real growth is in tablets, other devices and even cars.

“IoT is now accelerating as device costs fall and innovative applications emerge,” said Ericsson’s Rima Qureshi. “From 2020, commercial deployment of 5G networks will provide additional capabilities that are critical for IoT, such as network slicing and the capacity to connect exponentially more devices than is possible today.”

Mary Meeker recently revealed her 2016 trends, with one of the standout nuggets the claim that over 50pc of all searches will be through either images or speech, no more typing into search bars.

It’s all change.

Internet of things image via Shutterstock