Think the world can't possibly accommodate any more smartphones? You think wrong.
Despite the fact that our planet currently contains more unique designs of mobile phone than there are visually identifiable snowflake forms, we're about to be hit by a deluge of new mobiles. Make a date in your diary for February 24, 2014, when the plastic-formers and die-casters of the world will unleash their next-generation models at Mobile World Congress 2014.
This year non other than Mark Zuckerberg will grace the stage a MWC 2014, highlighting the show's importance even further - possibly pushing it above CES.
MWC is the annual mobile tech event where pretty much every major phone hardware company shows off its new flagship models for the following spring/summer contract renewal market.
MWC 2014 no-shows
There have been a few exceptions, though. Samsung opted to demonstrate its Galaxy S4 at a separate event in 2013, while Sony tried to get a head start on the competition by unveiling its Xperia Z at January's CES tech show last year instead.
The MWC 2013 event was all about larger displays and quad-core hardware. This year will be about even bigger displays and, as we've already seen from the LG G Flex and Samsung Galaxy Round, there may be some interesting new tech on display in the form of bendable screens and yet more takes on the emerging smartwatch trend.
All of the major manufacturers featured below are down to attend (with the exception of Apple) and, thanks to the recent Big Bag explosion of Android, previously modest handset makers like ZTE and Huawei look set to make the most noise with rafts of cheaper phones that still deliver a decent experience.
Nokia at MWC 2014
Windows Phone has had a pretty triumphant few months, with Microsoft's partnership with Nokia finally bearing fruit and WP's market share slowly increasing. IDC's recent numbers put it at 3.6% (Q3 2013), compared to 2% in Q3 2012 - a healthy 156% increase.
People seem to be remembering that they used to like Nokia, and although the company has released the likes of the Lumia 1520 and Lumia 2520 tablet in recent weeks, there may be more to come. Recently, the Lumia 1820 and Lumia 2020 have been rumored, with the latter likely to be a new flagship 8-inch tablet.
The big news however is the mystery around the Nokia Normandy (aka Nokia X) handset - a smartphone apparently running a heavily skinned version of Android which would see the Finnish firm stepping away from its Windows Phone-or-bust rule.
We should also see the first hardware set to launch with the Windows Phone 8.1 Blue software pre-loaded at MWC 2014, an OS update that's expected to massively overhaul WP's notification system, boost the multitasking options and incorporate a voice-based personal assistant feature. Because everyone's got to have a Siri function, even if no one ever uses it.
Samsung at MWC 2014
Rumor has it that Samsung is again saving its Galaxy S5 announcement for a separate event, just like it did last year with the bizarre Galaxy S4 launch in New York - although there are some who are still holding out hope. But that doesn't mean its booth will be any less heaving with new stuff
Samsung has jumped the MWC 2014 gun by announcing the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite ahead of show, although Barcelona will probably be the first time we're able to get hands on with the slate.
The Korean firm has also confirmed the existence of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo (rumored as the Galaxy Note 3 Lite) - and we expect to see this for the first time at MWC as well.
Another smartphone on our radar is the Galaxy Grand Neo - a mid-range handset with lower specs than the rumored Galaxy Grand 2.
We saw several Samsung tablets arrive at CES 2014, but there's still talk of a 13.3-inch monster slate with Android and Windows dual-boot abilities like the Ativ Q, as well as a range of Android only devices.
Samsung looks set to go big on its in-house mobile platform Tizen - finally - at MWC 2014, with reports revealing invites have been sent out for a Tizen-only event at the show.
There's also the chance of something extremely random like the Galaxy Gear 2 or perhaps even a hint of a 20-inch tablet turning up on the Samsung booth.
Whatever happens, it looks like Samsung's stall is going to be a busy one at MWC 2014, and we can't wait!
HTC at MWC 2014
HTC used to be Mobile World Congress banker, using the event to launch its newest models. In 2012 it gave us the HTC One X and One S, but in 2013 even HTC turned its back on the Barcelona show, launching its flagship HTC One ahead of time.
In 2014 we expect HTC to launch a new flagship, thought to be currently going under the development name of HTC M8, which rumors suggest will be a device with a 5-inch 1080p display, quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor and Android 4.4 as its launch OS beneath an updated HTC Sense 6.0 user interface.
This sounds rather like... most phones nowadays. Still, if HTC can whack in the same sort of top-drawer speakers and camera as the HTC One, we'll be buying it and eBaying last year's model, as ever.
Will we see it launch at MWC? We're not so sure, as the Taiwanese firm looks to be mirroring the likes of Apple and Samsung with its own standalone event.
LG at MWC 2014
LG is back on the smartphone A-list thanks to its successes with the excellent Nexus 4 and the more than adequate Nexus 5, both of which have encouraged people to consider its own-brand efforts like the LG G2 more than they perhaps might have done before Google salvaged its reputation.
Last year LG revealed the Optimus G Pro and the updated affordable L series range at MWC 2013, so we expect a similar mixture of a high-end banger and a few cheaper hangers-on to appear in 2014.
There's word that the LG G3 flagship will be held back until later this year, but the LG G2 Pro - a phablet version of the G2 - appears to be on the cards for MWC 2014, complete with fringerprint scanner.
There are a few key LG rumors that may be resolved at MWC 2014 (or sooner). LG is said to be Google's hardware partner for an updated Nexus 10 tablet, plus it's also recently registered the trademark "Glasstic" -- which may be some sort of Google Glass competitor.
We're also hearing from various places that the Korean firm is lining up a LG G2 mini handset to take on the likes of the S4 mini and One mini, so we'll certainly be keeping our eyes peeled for that.
Sony at MWC 2014
With the Xperia Z1 only just launched, we wouldn't forgive Sony for taking it easy and just bringing along a couple of those for people to play on and some t-shirts to give away. Surely it can't be preparing to release another flagship smartphone already.
However, with the Xperia Z1 Compact making its way out the door at CES 2014, the coast is now clear for a new flagship, and word is that the Sony Xperia Z2 will be booking its flight to Barcelona as we speak, complete with a refreshed user interface.
Google at MWC 2014
Google is on the list of MWC 2014 exhibitors, although it's likely to spend most of its time and square footage pushing the general Android ethos and giving away stickers than actually revealing any new Nexus hardware.
That said, we're expecting a new Nexus 10 to appear any day now, so if that one doesn't pop before Christmas, perhaps it could be saved as an MWC headline-stealer to detract from the stacks of enhanced tablets that Samsung is bound to show up with.
There's also some suggestions of an 8-inch Nexus 8 tablet sneaking out at MWC, with an Intel chop inside.
ZTE at MWC 2014
ZTE polarized phone fans at MWC 2013, revealing the flashy 5.7-inch Grand Memo and the weird little ZTE Open, running the Firefox OS.
It's recently announced the small and affordable Nubia Z5S and Z5S mini models, but rumors suggest it has a secret higher tier on the way - a 6.44-inch ZTE Nubia Z7 could be its forthcoming "phablet" flagship and the one it wants to shout about at MWC 2014
Samsung isn't the only manufacturer linked to a Tizen device either, with the ZTE Geek device appearing on the Tizen website listing for its presence at MWC.
ZTE is also said to be planning a smartwatch for release in 2014, but then so is everyone, so that's hardly news.
Huawei at MWC 2014
The Chinese phone maker is rumored to be preparing an update to the decent Huawei Ascend P6 and is, rather unsurprisingly, sticking the fashionable letter "S" on the end of the model name to signify that it's newer and better.
The Ascend P6S is said to arrive running a full octa-core processor supplied by MediaTek, which ought to get the core enthusiasts happy.
Panasonic at MWC 2014
We last saw Panasonic at MWC back in 2012, where it was flaunting the Eluga and Eluga Power. Unfortunately neither handset really made a splash and led to Panasonic pulling out of the mobile game in 2013.
It may not be gone for long though, as there's new reports suggesting it's working on a new rugged smartphone. Watch this space.
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