Low-cost handsets and smartphones will together account
for almost 79% of all new mobile phones by 2014, according to
analystJuniper
Research.
Juniper Research predicted that demand for mobile phones will be
driven by the influx of new users from low-income socio-economic
groups in developing markets and a rising demand for complex
"smart" devices from affluent users in developed markets.
Mobile phone makers such as Nokia, Apple and RIM (makers of
Blackberry) are well positioned to benefit from these trends,
according to Juniper Research. However, mid-market phone
manufacturers such as Sony Ericsson and Motorola will have to
rethink their strategy.
The report's author Andrew Kitson said: "Low-cost handset
shipments will number more than 700 million in 2014, up by 31% from
levels seen in 2008, albeit down slightly from a peak of 716
million in 2012, as some users begin to upgrade to costlier
devices.
"At the same time, smartphone shipment volumes will grow
continuously across the forecast period, reaching almost 360
million by the end of the period. We therefore expect that
mid-range device sales volumes will fall by more than 41% over the
period."
Smartphones are becoming increasingly used as essential business
tools.
Microsoft and Nokia have joined forces to port Microsoft Office
to Nokia smart phones, a move that could see the Nokia devices
become more integrated with corporate IT.