North American smartphone market to grow 38%
The North American smartphone market is forecast to grow 38% year on year in 2010, according to a new report from Canalys.
Smartphone shipments in North America totalled 47.2 million units in 2009, a year on year increase of 27%, helped by a strong fourth quarter, while this year’s increase is expected to bring total shipments in the region to 65.1 million units.
Android device shipments are also predicted to grow quickly, breaking the 12.3 million barrier this year. BlackBerry, iPhone and Android devices will account for over 80% of smart phones shipped in the North America this year, added Canalys.
Strong growth in the market this year and beyond will be driven by smart phone vendors delivering cheaper handsets to the market that will appeal to a wider section of the public, it said
“We have seen growth in the smart phone market, until now, driven by, high-end, flagship devices, but there is now a shift in focus taking place,” said Tim Shepherd, Canalys Analyst.
In February, a Deloitte report revealed that approximately one in five UK consumers now owns a smartphone.
It found that 21% of consumers are using smartphones and that they ranked fourth among owners in terms of the product they value most.