There is a change coming in the smartphone market. Apps designers and developers are eagerly awaiting the rumored Tesla smartphone, which, if released, could be a serious market disruptor to the dominance of Apple and Samsung.
Ever since the introduction of the Apple iPhone in 2007, followed shortly by the release of the first Samsung Galaxy handset in 2009, the two industry giants have enjoyed the majority share of the mobile phone market. Microsoft’s Windows Phone came and went, Nokia tried and failed to recover some of its former glory, while several budget-conscious brands like Vivo and Oppo scrapped it out for the crumbs.
Apple has a commanding 57.73 percent global market share whilst Samsung sits at 26.37 percent, with no other brand even coming close to their dominance. Amidst all of the market hubbub over the past year, however, rumors have been circulating that electric vehicle and clean energy giant Tesla were set to enter the mobile phone market with a smartphone of their own, tentatively called the Model Pi.
What Will Set The Model Pi Aside From Its Competition?
It will take more than just the brand power of Tesla (which by the way about 60% of the U.S. electric vehicle market is estimated to be owned by Tesla) alone to disrupt the Apple/Samsung market dominance. Remember, global giants Microsoft and Google have found it to be no easy feat themselves. So what does Tesla have up their sleeve that the others may not?
The Model Pi is rumored to have impressive specifications, including a 4K screen, and a cluster of four cameras with the main camera boasting a 108 MP resolution. On top of these immaculate hardware specifications, the Model Pi is said to also be powered by a Snapdragon 898 SoC processor, and up to a whopping 2 TB of flash storage. But even that won't be enough to sway Apple and Samsung loyalists.
What really sets the Model Pi above its competition is the fact that it connects to Starlink satellites and is capable of solar charging. As the Starlink satellite network was launched by Tesla's sister company SpaceX, tech fanatics believe that the Model Pi is likely to possess second-to-none download speeds alongside guaranteed connectivity, as the Starlink network can quickly transport large amounts of information to any point on Earth, even across oceans or to locations where fiber-optic cables would be too expensive to install. Most recently Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the Starlink network could supply internet services to volcano-ravaged Tonga.
The other major feature that could be a game-changer (if and when it is confirmed) is neural link connection. This is where we really start to tread into Blade Runner territory, with the Model Pi rumored to have technology that will allow the phone to transmit data directly to and from the human brain. Of course, it goes without saying that both neural links and the ability to have access to an internet connection anywhere on the planet no matter how remote you may be roaming, are two features that Apple and Samsung currently cannot offer their customers.
When Is The Model Pi Being Released?
There were rumors that the smartphone would be released as soon as December 2021, but that never happened. Tesla and Musk have remained mute on the future of this smartphone. Many industry experts are pessimistic about the release of the Model Pi anytime soon. That is because even if technology like neural link connections existed, it would mean the phones would sell for prices well beyond the average consumer - possibly as high as USD 4000.
Some believe the phone will arrive in 2022, others believe it won't be until 2025 when the technology becomes more affordable, and then some believe the entire thing is a complete myth. Still, Tesla as a company has garnered a reputation for pioneering large-scale innovations and effectively proving people wrong. The likelihood they are developing a revolutionary smartphone is not beyond the realms of possibility.
So How Do I Develop Apps For A Phone That Doesn't Exist?
And now we’ve arrived at this million-dollar question that’s plaguing app developers from all corners of the globe. If the Model Pi delivers everything that is rumored, it has the potential to dominate the market and those early apps will catapult their creators through the stratosphere.
The main issue is that Musk is remaining completely tight-lipped about the future (or even the existence) of the Model Pi. It is hard to develop apps for a phone that has no official development timeline, operating system, or online marketplace to release its future apps.
Naturally, developers who are on the ground floor of the launch of the Tesla Model Pi will have the jump on the rest of the industry. This doesn’t mean, however, that all other developers cannot be prepared for a future that includes the Model Pi.
One of the first bits of advice is to master the C procedural computer programming language because it is widely used in developing desktop applications and is the most universal language available. There is a reason why C is the most popular programming language in the world. Memory management is highly flexible in this language. C is the ideal language for developing system-level applications.
It would also be a safe bet to work in tandem with reputable, experienced app developers and designers because they have the team and the resources to create apps in all languages, which means they will be best placed to rapidly design and release apps for the Model Pi, if or when it exists.
Whilst developers and consumers alike are still speculating as to whether the Model Pi will grace our shelves anytime soon, it is certainly exciting to even think about the innovations we’re likely to see in the personal tech sector over the next few years. There is definitely a lot to be excited about, even without the Model Pi!
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