Rudy De Waele, a ‘next generation mobile services’ strategist, has come up with his predictions regarding Mobile & Wireless Trends for the new year. The top trends as envisaged by Rudy De Waele are spurt in the Mobile Social Networks, increased prominence of Google’s Android & the Open Handset Alliance amongst others.

According to his predictions, Google’s Android & the Open Handset Alliance will sure take off this year. As he sees it, even while the iPhone is doing a very good job in terms of embracing web & mobile convergence, the Apple OS still remains a closed system used by a rather small section of users.

He sees the opportunity for Google & the Open Handset Alliance getting the latest Linux-based operating system Android on many cutting-edge smartphones.

The growth of the Mobile Social Networks is another significant phenomenon that will set the tone for mobile & wireless world in the New Year, according to Rudy De Waele. The year gone by has already seen the popularity of social networking sites zooming. Things will only get better with the convergence of the web and wireless.

With the leading social media networks (Facebook, YouTube MySpace, Bebo, etc) all have already opted to go mobile, the trend will gain further momentum in 2008. It will be largely sustained by more flat rate introductions on different wireless markets.