Of course, disruption isn't just about positive changes. One unintended consequence of Apple's success and subsequent influence has been the increasing fragmentation of the mobile OS market - a problem that the mobile sector has been trying to fix for the last decade, and has now been exacerbated by the rising popularity of OS-oriented apps and widgets. That's good for innovation, but costly to developers.
Between that and the massive IP traffic growth experienced by 3G operators whose data services languished for years until the iPhone came along - and with the iPad now making fresh waves - Apple looks set to remain a disruptive force in the cellco space for some time yet.
What the judges said: "For creating the telecom industry's most innovative product, and for bringing with it an entirely new ecosystem and marketplace that is imitated by telecom, internet and IT businesses worldwide"
Winners' list:
- Best Asian Telecom Carrier - Softbank Mobile (Japan)
- Telecom CEO of the Year- Jamaludin Ibrahim, Axiata (Malaysia)
- Best Mobile Carrier - Celcom Axiata (Malaysia)
- Best Fixed-Line & Broadband Carrier - Hong Kong Broadband Network (Hong Kong)
- Best Emerging Markets Carrier - Tata DOCOMO (India)
- Best Regional Mobile Group - Axiata (Malaysia)
- Best Converged Services - SK Telecom (Korea)
- Best Content Strategy - PCCW (Hong Kong)
- Best Managed Services Provider - BT Asia-Pacific (UK)
- Best International Wholesale Carrier - Hutchison Global Communications (Hong Kong)
- Most Disruptive Technology- iPhone (Apple)
Related video: Celebrating Asia's telecom champions