Global smartphone market to grow by 55 per cent

The worldwide smartphone market is forecast to grow by 55 per cent this year as a growing number of users turn in their feature phones for more advanced devices, according to a study by International Data Corporation (IDC) -- the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications and consumer technology markets.
Vendors will ship a total of 472 million smartphones this year compared to roughly 305 million units shipped in 2010. The figure will nearly double to 982 million by the end of 2015, according to the report.
The smartphone market, which will grow more than four times the rate of the overall mobile phone market this year, is being fuelled by falling average selling prices, increased phone functionality, and lower-cost data plans among other factors.
IDC expects Android, which passed Symbian as the leading operating system worldwide in fourth quarter of 2010, to grow to more than 40 per cent of the market in the second half of this year. Symbian will steadily lose share throughout the forecast period as its biggest supporter Nokia transitions its smartphone strategy to Windows Phone.
Still, Nokia's commitment to support Symbian devices until 2016 will keep the installed base of Symbian-powered smartphone users on par with its competitors.
Windows Phone 7/Windows Mobile will benefit from Nokia's support, scope and breadth within markets where Nokia has historically had a strong presence. Until Nokia begins introducing Windows Phone-powered smartphones in large volumes in 2012, Windows Phone 7/Windows Mobile will only capture a small share of the market as the release of Mango-powered smartphones are not expected to reach the market until late this year.
Nevertheless, assuming that Nokia's transition to Windows Phone goes smoothly, the OS is expected to defend a number two rank and more than 20 percent share in 2015. "iOS was the third ranked OS and will remain a force in the mobile phone market throughout the forecast," it added.
After an initial explosive growth period, iOS is expected to grow at a more modest pace throughout the latter half of the forecast. Although a small market share decline is expected, IDC expects significant overall shipment volume growth through the end of 2015.
BlackBerry OS is expected to maintain its position at fourth. Like iOS, the BlackBerry OS will experience market share decline even as shipment volumes grow throughout the forecast.