Smartphone technology would take a major leap when foldable displays are finally introduced commercially. We’ve seen patents filed and accepted in the past couple of years, and prototypes as well. The latest buzz on this area comes from The Investor’s report saying that Apple is developing its first iPhone with a foldable display. For this product, Apple is reportedly working with LG Display, and not Samsung amid fears of losing this technology to the South Korean giant.

The report states that LG Display has started work for supplying foldable panels for the iPhone. LG Innotek is also said to have begun work on developing the rigid flexible printed circuit board (RFPCB) for the foldable OLED iPhone. It won’t be soon though till we see the foldable iPhone as production for the displays will begin in 2020. This isn’t the first we’re hearing of a possible foldable iPhone. Last December, LG Display was reported to have started mass production of foldable displays for smartphones. Among the companies LG would supply foldable displays to included Apple, Google, and Microsoft.

Apple‘s choice of LG display for its foldable iPhone is being treated as a precaution to Samsung potentially gaining ideas. Samsung is currently the sole provider of the iPhone X’s OLED panel and is expected to continue the same next year as well. However, Samsung has already announced its plans for the company’s first foldable smartphone.

Samsung recently confirmed that it would launch a foldable smartphone around early 2018 under its Galaxy Note series. Although details are scarce, some reports suggest that the ‘Galaxy X’ smartphone will come with a flexible or secondary display. The secondary display will turn on when the smartphone is folded or bent from the middle. It’s design is expected to be so that it doubles as a flip phone as well.

India will host its very-own mobile congress between September 27 and 29 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. In its first edition, the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2017 will feature a three-day exhibition where prominent mobile manufacturers, internet solution providers, and telecom operators will showcase their technologies and products. With as many as 300 exhibitors lined up for the IMC, here’s a look at the top expected things.

Akin to Mobile World Congress in Barcelona edition, the India Mobile Congress is also expected to see Nokia as one of the key exhibitors. At the preview conference, Nokia’s Head of Marketing and Communication (CMO) Amit Marwah said that there will be up to 20 technology demonstrations at the event. This will also include the company’s OZO 360-degree virtual reality camera. In addition to the tech demos, all of Nokia’s latest phones will be on display. While Marwah did not explicitly mention, but we can expect the Nokia 8 to make its presence felt, along with the Nokia 5, Nokia 6, and Nokia 3.

Nokia won’t be the only brand at IMC 2017. A range of other manufacturers – local and foreign – will also be present at the event. These include Micromax, Lava, and LG among others. 

India is rapidly pacing towards the adoption of 4G services, and now the time befits to start the chatter around the next-gen 5G services. IMC is said to be the platform facilitating talks, and showcasing of 5G solutions for consumers and enterprises. Recently, Airtel partnered South Korea’s SK Telecom to build 5G network for India. As Airtel is also one of the exhibitors at the event, we might see how the alliance is shaping up.

In line with Make in India, ISRO’s indigenous navigation satellite is under development. At IMC, the space agency will showcase the technology and detail the working of NavIC. The ‘desi’ navigation system is poised to compete with other navigation systems, including GPS (Global Positioning System), which is built by the US.

Among telecom operators, the PSU telecom operator will showcase its network services at the event. BSNL is also likely to detail its plans for 5G deployment in the country. VK Sharma at the preview conference said that by end of 2018, BSNL will also provide 5G services in the country. Idea Cellular, on the other hand, will be showcasing enterprise solutions that are built for India. 

Other than Nokia’s OZO, Qualcomm will also focus on the emerging virtual reality technology. The chipmaker, one of the key exhibitors at IMC, is likely to showcase technology or solutions built to accelerate the development, and adoption of VR in the consumer space.

Artificial intelligence, another technology which is fast expanding, will be demonstrated by IBM. The company is expected to detail its work in the field, and demo solutions for consumers and enterprises.

As COAI Chairman Rajan Mathews pointed during the media briefing, IoT is one of the immediate technological needs for India. At IMC, Internet of Things or IoT is said to hog plenty of limelight driven by the need and interest in the Indian context. From industry automation to consumer space, we might be able to witness companies showcasing their internet connected products and services. Some of these solutions will be targeted at the agricultural space in the country, and how to better it.

{BGR}