The 2013 Mobile World Congress (MWC) is arguably the most important trade show on the mobile industry calendar, and as it’s less than two weeks away, market research firm Strategy Analytics (SA) has provided the top three tech trends to look out.  

First up is the rise of the 4G phablet (devices larger than 4.8" smartphones but smaller than 7" tablets), which we also identified as one of our Top tech trends for 2013. It would seem that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) aim to outperform each other every year, when it comes to the size as well as the resolution of smartphone displays.

This year it looks like we are going to have to redefine our definition of a pocketable smartphone once again, as SA expects a number of new flagship LTE (4G) enabled smartphones to be announced at MWC 2013. Just like the Samsung Galaxy Note II (review) and the Sony Xperia Z, these devices will boasts screens of at least 5" and above.

The second trend the company identifies is the rise of the Chinese OEMs, including Huawei as well as ZTE. SA asserts that these companies will have a major presence at the show. Furthermore, the analytics company expects Lenovo, TCL-Alcatel and other others to boost their international mobile footprint with some affordable mass-market-targeting smartphones.

Beyond Android

SA’s third and final tech trend is perhaps the most interesting since its called ‘Beyond Android’. Google’s Android mobile operating system (OS) is currently dominating the mobile landscape, with the platform alone accounting for 70% of all global smartphone shipments during Q4 2012.

However, SA notes that the OS is approaching its peak within key influential mobile markets the likes of the US and China. The company expects mobile device OEMs to showcase their competing smartphone and tablet platforms during MWC 2013, in an effort to boost awareness around their respective platforms and snap up some market share from mobile device users suffering from Android (and iOS) fatigue.

These include Microsoft with its Windows Phone 8, BlackBerry with BlackBerry 10, Mozilla with Firefox OS, Samsung and Intel with Tizen, Canonical with Ubuntu for phones and successor to MeeGo, Jolla’s Sailfish.

The 2013 MWC kicks off in Barcelona, Spain on 24 February 2013. Keep your browser locked to TechSmart.co.za for the latest tech related news and info.

In related news, LG recently pulled the wraps off of its new Optimus L Series II range of smartphones, which the firm is set to showcase later this month at the forthcoming MWC 2013 in Barcelona, Spain.