MWC Barcelona, previously known as Mobile World Congress, takes place every February in Barcelona. It is the world’s largest mobile technology exhibition in the world. Themed ‘Intelligent Connectivity’, this year’s event focused on the high-speed 5G networks, as well as new smartphones, robots and other Internet-connected devices.
Welcoming more than 100,000 attendees on 25-28 Feb 2019, MWC Barcelona 2019 saw over 2,400 participating companies showcasing their latest technologies, some of which particularly caught the eye:
HoloLens 2
With corporate clients in mind, Microsoft unveiled its new augmented reality headset, HoloLens 2. An upgrade to its predecessor that came out three years ago, Hololens 2 has demonstrated improvements in terms of eye-and hand-tracking. Coming with a USD 3,500 price tag, the device is targeted at businesses with access to Dynamics 365 Remote Assist, helping professionals like medical researchers and mechanics work remotely.
Holoscreen 3D Screen Protector
This screen protector, when used with a special app, turns phone display into 3D and allows you to take 3D photos (provided you have two or more rear cameras). When the app is not in use, the screen protector works just like a normal screen protector. The best part? This amazing invention by Lucid and Holitech costs only USD 30!
Foldable Phones
Another feature of the event was foldable smartphones with the latest bendable displays, the emerging mobile trend:
Huawei Mate X: a 5G-compatible phone with an 8” screen and three cameras. The design even allows preview while taking a selfie.
Samsung Galaxy Fold: a two-screen phone which closes like a book with six cameras.
Robots
Taking advantage of the speedy 5G networks, Chinese player ZTE exhibited a robotic band, comprising a drummer and a pianist, which played music throughout the event. Meanwhile, CloudMinds Technology presented robots that served drinks at a bar.
Mercedes-Benz User Experience
Utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) is a teachable, individualizable infotainment system to be used in the new A-Class. Its features include navigation— display with augmented reality technology and ’Ask Mercedes’ — a virtual assistant from the German carmaker.
If you’re kicking yourself for missing such an exciting event, don’t worry. Just make sure you mark this on your calendar — MWC19 Shanghai on 25-27 Jun 2019 and MWC19 Los Angeles on 22-24 Oct 2019.