For the past two years, smartphone shipments have grown higher every consecutive quarter. But this trend could come to a halt in the first quarter of 2014. TrendForce reports that worldwide smartphone shipments reached 265 million units in Q4 2013, a growth of 6.5% over the previous quarter. But it expects shipments to drop about 5.1% in Q1 2014 due […]
Smartphones
Hewlett-Packard to launch new HP smartphones before end of 2013?
With just over a week left before we wrap up 2013, we may not be quite done with smartphone announcements. Sources have told The Information that Hewlett-Packard could yet make a late-year announcement. It is reportedly planning to launch new six- and seven-inch phablets before the end of the year. Little is known about these new HP smartphones themselves but […]
Forbes: Microsoft to surpass Apple in smartphone market share in 3 years
Market analysts love to gaze into their crystal balls and predict the future. While they sometimes get it right, they also get it wrong more often than not. With Apple riding high and currently the most valuable technology company in America, many want to know who will dethrone them and when. The latest to make a prediction is Forbes’ Mark […]
IDC: 2013 smartphone shipments to top billion mark
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 […]
Smartphones account for more than half of all phones sold in Q3 2013
Worldwide sales of mobile phones continue to climb with smartphones accounting for over half of the 455.6 million handsets sold in Q3 2013 according to market research firm Gartner. Taking a 55% share of sales, smartphones hit their highest share to date as sales grew to 250.2 million units, up 45.8 percent over the same quarter a year ago. Much […]
IDC: 258.4 million smartphones shipped in Q3 2013
Market research firm IDC yesterday published the latest edition of its Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, revealing that smartphone shipments set a new world record by growing 38.8% year over year. They hit a total of 258.4 million units, up 9.0% over the previous record high of 237.0 million set in the previous quarter. The overall mobile phone market also […]
Amazon to partner with HTC to develop smartphones?
Rumours that Amazon is working on a smartphone go back to late 2011. Early ones had Amazon working with Foxconn but a report by The Financial Times today indicates that it is now working with HTC on up to three different models. One device is reportedly “at an advanced stage of development” and could launch in 2014 should Amazon decide […]
Panasonic exits smartphone business
The smartphone wars have claimed another victim. Panasonic today confirmed that it will stop development of smartphones in October but will continue to manufacture and sell feature phones in Japan where they still account for about 30% of mobile handsets sold. Back in 2011, Panasonic announced plans to expand its smartphone business to span the globe. It reentered the European […]