Smartphones may be the latest thing in many markets, but in some it's already on a decline. So how Smartphone markets globally really look like in June 2013?
Developed Smartphone Markets:
According to research firm International Data Corporation (IDC), the Western European mobile phone market shrank in the first quarter of 2013 due to a lower than expected slowdown in the smartphone shipments. Total shipments dropped by 4.2 percent year-on-year to 43.6 million units for Q1 of 2013. While feature phone (basic phone) shipments continued to fall, the smartphone segment saw only a 12 percent increase year on year in shipments up to 31.6 million units in the quarter. According to IDC this is the lowest growth rate for the segment since IDC started tracking the mobile phone market in 2004.
The reasons for the slowdown experienced in smartphone sales in Western European countries are deteriorating economies,resulting in a consequent decline in disposable income for consumers and reduced subsidies on handsets by Mobile operators. Both the Southern Europe smartphone markets and Northern Europe smartphone markets have experienced the economic decline. In Western Europe particularly, smartphone penetration is reaching a tipping point, with most users not willing to replace their old smartphone. According to IDC Analysts, the smartphone market in the region is entering the second wave of smartphone adoption, which will be driven by those users with no need for a smartphone (First Wave was driven by those users looking for devices that would meet their mobility needs). In short, for smartphone makers, Western Europe smartphone market is stagnating.
On the Smartphone Operating System front, Android continues to dominate the smartphone market in Western Europe, with 21.9 million units shipped in Q1, while Apple’s iOS is on a steady decline. Apple market share declined to 20 percent from 25 percent from Q1 of 2012. Windows Phone 8 improved its position to become the third biggest OS in the region and its market share rose to 6% in Q1 of 2013.
Developing Smartphone Markets:
The smartphone markets in developing countries like India and China, are seeing a growth and according to the IDC report on mobile phone growth in China and India, these are the markets where the mobile makers will need to focus. As these will be offering the much needed growth.
As far as China is concerned, IDC says Q1 2013 saw 97 million units shipped in Q1 which is 15 percent increase from Q1 2012. Smartphones in China reached 28 million units in Q1 2013, which is massive 390 percent year-on-year growth. China’s mobile phone market is dominated by smartphones which have a 79 percent share. In India the smartphone shipments also continued to 74 percent year-on-year in Q1 of 2013. In both markets smartphone is being driven by low cost devices, including phones from China made or indigenous makers. In both these markets, smartphones is the latest thing.
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