In a survey result released today, IDC, a research firm, shared that smartphone sales will be expected to continue their robust growth in 2013. There will be some 918 million units of smartphone sold worldwide, with increases in large emerging markets such as China, Brazil and India, mainly among the growing middle class. According to IDC, 2013 will be the first time smartphones outsell the basic-featured phones in the mobile market. 1 out of 2 phones would be a smartphone. Some of the reasons include falling prices of smartphones, a wide price range of smartphones and more and more advanced data networks (such as 4G) being rolled out.
IDC also estimated that by 2017, 1.5 billion smartphones will be shipped worldwide, which means 2 out of 3 phones would be a smartphone. In terms of market share, China is expected to see sales of about 300 million handsets. This is equivalent to about 1/3 of the world’s market. This is far ahead of the 137 million handsets expected to be sold in the United States. Behind US, would be India, which is expected to be the 3rd largest market for smartphones by 2017. Brazil will pick up the position as the fourth largest market. It is believed that these emerging countries will likely overtake the more matured markets such as Japan and Britain.
