Alright, my turn to dive into the prediction ring. Hey, everyone else is doing it, right?
1. In 2008, we'll see the most growth in the mobile phone sector in regards to "smartphones". It seems like over the past years, the manufacturers have been focusing on the camera and music functionality in mobile devices. I think 2008 will see the "smart" part of the phone in focus, i.e. web capability, messaging, planning, and contacts management.
2. Apple will continue to excel in the consumer sector and their stock price will continue going up. This might not sound like a very insightful prediction, but having been to two of the three Apple stores in Manhattan over the course of the past few days, I am quite convinced that demand will continue to grow. With a rumored sub-notebook device coming out and their growth in video and video rental on-line predicted, I think Apple can do very little wrong in the coming year. Further, I presume they will drop some hints as to what the next iPhone will look like, and if they even incorporate half of the missing features, it will be a winner. It most likely won't come out in 2008, but the hype and related excitement will keep Apple in everyone's mind.
3. HTC will continue on it's growth path. Being the maker of the only truly usable Windows Mobile devices, and white-labeling for so many others, this manufacturer is poised to garner ever more market share. Their devices have topped the "best" lists of many review sites when it comes to smartphones for years now. They will continue to do so in 2008. One thing they have to watch out for is becoming complacent in design. One thing they cannot forget is that the competition at times is much better at executing design than they are.
4. Wireless LAN will continue expanding. As annoying as hotspots and hotspot usage currently are, we will continue to see ever more access points worldwide. Most public spaces are already hotspots to some extent. I foresee this trend picking up speed in 2008, with more and more hotspots available for free.
5. Mobile phone tariffs will continue plummeting. At the same time, ever more usage will become based on flat rates. Data will also go primarily to a flat-rate billing structure. In general, the user will simply be incentivized to use their mobile more and more.
6. Russia as a target for venture money will continue to become increasingly more interesting. The evolution to-date has been slow, but when in Europe, one can sense something. You hear that people are willing to invest their money (and some already have). You're also starting to see exits here and there. I predict Russia is the place to be making bets in 2008 with venture capital.
7. The GCC (Dubai, Kuwait, Bahrain, etc.) will become ever more relevant as LP's in the private equity sector. Although they are still highly focused on real-estate investment, the savviest of investors from the region are looking for long-term alternatives (highly sophisticated investors in the region have already been in buyout funds for years). Having seen how many new funds are down there chasing the money, I can only presume that the GCC will become stronger and stronger as a "must-pitch" investor group.
8. We won't see any major revolution in "electric" cars. Whatever the alternative energy source is trying to power the newest car models, we will continue our dependency on good ol' gas. The large manufacturers aren't incentivized yet to go full bore towards alternatives, and the pain-point at the pump hasn't been reached.
9. Social networks will continue strong. Although they will continue searching for monetization opportunities, I don't foresee them disappearing any time soon. If one does disappear, another on will follow in it's footsteps. We'll see more and more people managing their "on-line life" via a social network platform. I also predict the role of a "friend" will become ever more important. You'll be less likely in the future to add everyone and anyone as a friend. Yet, those friends whom you do add will get more of your attention.
10. Finally, and I think I've predicted this every year, presence will become super important. Location aware devices and your "status" as being available or not will intertwine to make sure that anyone trying to reach you can hunt you down and anyone you are looking for will be a couple "clicks" away. I don't see location based services growing as fast when it comes to advertising. But I do see location combined with your contacts as the area where we'll see ever more killer apps created in 2008.
Of course, I could be totally wrong!