This will be remembered as the year when the smartphone bubble burst. Of course the market will remain one of the largest in terms of unit numbers among all consumer products, and in some regions and user bases there will be growth opportunities. But the market will be adjusting to being in slowdown mode, which will see consolidation, and some players either redirecting their efforts or exiting altogether. Growth is slowing – IDC cut its forecast for 2016 and believes the increase in shipments will barely top 3% worldwide. The squeeze on revenue and profits will be worse, with much of the remaining growth coming in the cost-competitive mid-market. The answer in mass consumer markets is for a few players…