Worldwide smartphone shipments appear to show no sign of slowing in 2013. According to IDC’s latest Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, shipments will top the one billion mark in 2013, a 39.3% jump over 2012. With growth slowing in a number of mature markets, emerging markets are now driving the demand thanks in large part to steadily declining average selling prices (ASPs).
Android in particular is tied to the rise of the low-cost smartphone market as the ASP dropped to US$337 in 2013, down almost 13% from 2012. IDC also expects this trend to continue and the smartphone ASP could drop to US$265 by 2017.
“The key driver behind smartphone volumes in the years ahead is the expected decrease in prices,” said Ramon Llamas, Research Manager with IDC’s Mobile Phone team. “Particularly within emerging markets, where price sensitivity and elasticity are so important, prices will come down for smartphones to move beyond the urban elite and into the hands of mass market users. Every vendor is closely eyeing how far down they can price their devices while still realizing a profit and offering a robust smartphone experience.”
The Asia/Pacific region accounted for 52.3% (528.2 million units) of all 2013 shipments. Europe followed in second with 18.0% (182.1 million units), North America with 15.0% (151.0 million units). Latin America held down fourth with 9.0% (91.1 million units shipped) and the Middle East and Africa closed out the top five regions with a 5.7% share (57.6 million units).
IDC expects the smartphone market to continue to grow over the next few years. By 2017, smartphone shipments could top 1.7 billion units annually.
Source : IDC