Driven by increased demand from developed regions for high-end models, along with an unexpectedly strong push from emerging economies for lower-cost products, smartphones are expected to rise to account for the majority of global cellphone shipments in 2013””two years earlier than previously predicted.
Smartphone shipments in 2013 are forecast to account for 54 percent of the total cellphone market, up from 46 percent in 2012 and 35 percent in 2011, according to an IHS iSuppli Wireless Communications Market Tracker Report from information and analytics provider IHS (NYSE: IHS). The year 2013 will mark the first time that smartphones will make up more than half of all cellphone shipments.
“This represents a major upgrade for the outlook compared to a year ago, when smartphones weren’t expected to take the lead until 2015,” said Wayne Lam, senior analyst for wireless communications at IHS. “Over the past 12 months, smartphones have fallen in price, and a wider variety of models have become available, spurring sales of both low-end smartphones in regions like Asia-Pacific, as well as midrange to high-end phones in the United States and Europe. The solid expansion in both shipments and market share this year of smartphones will make them the leading type of mobile phone for the first time, and shipment growth in the double digits will continue for the next few years.”
I refuse to own a smartphone. I don’t have one; I don’t want one.
Razors and razor blades. Sure smartphone prices are coming down, but you are paying a mint for the new data plans. It’s just like cable TV, the prices will keep going up and up to support more and more dubious new features. But hey, I wonder when government will mandate free smart phones for those on public assistance. I don’t know about you, but I would rather watch my videos on my big screen HDTV instead of a 4″ smart phone display screen. I can wait until I get home and fire up the DVR. I can even program the DVR while I’m away from home using my – wait for it – smart phone.
I don’t have one and don’t want one, either. I love my tablet, though. Cheaper than a smart phone and it doesn’t need a data plan, just Wi-Fi. I have a bunch of books loaded on it, including a nifty Bible app., plus newspapers from around the world, TV stations, videos, music, my Netflix queue, and some really fun games. Best of all, it’s not an itty-bitty thing and I can adjust the text, background, brightness, etc. to accommodate my not-so-great vision. 😀 The battery lasts a long time, too. My cellphone battery doesn’t run down quickly, either, because it’s only being used for talking and text.
Smart phones are a pain to many people. They do have some re deeming features however. I work (chaplain) with public safety agencys, particularly fire. There are apps available at relatively low costs from Android that work with Google Earth. They can locate fire hydrants with this, get a quick look at the layout of the area all while on the way to a call. They can also call up preplanning info about business such as what is stored inside. That can be very important to a firefighter. Not just from a safety standpoint but how to attack the fire. That one app can save lives and property. Sure they can be aggravating but they can also be a great help.