The CTIA’s latest SmartBrief has an editorial on the key trends in 2008 in the year that was. The CTIA-The Wireless Association®, is an international non-profit membership organisation founded in 1984, representing all sectors of wireless communications – cellular, personal communication services and enhanced specialized mobile radio. The editorial says:

Part I of the CTIA SmartBrief special year-end report looked back at the most important trends and stories of 2008. Part II, below, highlights our predictions and yours for what's in store for 2009.

From my vantage point, 2009 will be filled with news surrounding advanced wireless technologies, new devices and service, as well as the key role wireless can play in meeting consumer demand for broadband. Public policy, of course, will be a major story throughout the year as the Obama administration takes office and some new faces appear at the FCC and on Capitol Hill.

The president-elect has made it clear that he sees technology and telecom as paths to solving some of the economic and social problems our nation is facing today, but there are other areas of interest, such as Internet regulation, that will provide an opportunity for the industry to exchange ideas with policymakers and to work collaboratively toward sensible policy.

I expect the industry to continue to keep its pulse on consumer demand, inspiring even more intense competition, which in turn produces a greater level of the industry's hallmark innovation. The state of the economy is expected to remain uncertain, but many analysts predict wireless will continue to prosper. Popular opinion also follows that line of thinking.

In our recent online poll, 71% of respondents said they believed the economic turmoil would drive more people to mobile as more households go all-wireless. As for events, next year will deliver CTIA WIRELESS 2009® in Las Vegas, with a keynote appearance by former Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore, and CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment 2009® in San Francisco. Visit the CTIA Web site for full details.

Thanks for being loyal readers of CTIA SmartBrief. I have enjoyed bringing you the most pressing and most interesting wireless news each day this year and look forward to doing so again in 2009. I'm sure it will be a busy year, but until we get there, please take a moment to see what your fellow readers are predicting will make news next year.

Happy New Year.