Global smartphone growth to slow to 11.3 per cent: IDC

Worldwide smartphone growth is expected to slow further to 11.3 per cent in 2015, down from 27.6 per cent a year ago, according to the latest data from the International Data Corporation (IDC).
Although the researcher is sticking to its forecast of 1.9 billion annual shipments by 2019, the previous forecast of 11.8 per cent growth this year has been revised down slightly due in part to saturation in the Chinese smartphone market, it said. "In fact, 2015 will be the first year that China’s smartphone growth – just by 2.5 per cent – will be slower than the worldwide market."
Android smartphone growth is also expected to be slower than the worldwide market at 8.5 per cent in 2015 due to the fact that China accounts for around 36 per cent of total Android smartphone shipments.
The report also points out that Apple faced a similar situation in 2012-2014, when its year-on-year growth rates were slightly below the worldwide market. But its recent shift in product line to bigger screen models with a broader country reach has had an immediate impact on volumes and IDC now expects iOS smartphones to grow by 23 per cent in 2015 and remain above worldwide market growth rates throughout the forecast, it added.

Smart wearable device shipments to near 130 million by 2018

Smart wearable device shipments, including smart watches and glasses, will approach 130 million by 2018, 10 times higher than estimated this year, according to a report from Juniper Research.

The report noted that the change in adoption levels can be attributable to heightened consumer awareness of wearable technology and new product launches. The research also noted that, with the emergence of major players and other key stakeholders, there is a much more focused approach towards ‘wearable computing’.

However the report noted that, as of now, wearable devices represent a 'nice to have' and not a 'must have' for consumers.

The report also revealed that there are a number of social and legal barriers to the deployment of wearable devices. "However, not all of these hurdles will apply to every device, or every type of device."

Issues such as privacy commonly arise if the wearable device has a camera and gives the appearance of filming at all times. In the case of Healthcare wearables, the most relevant issue is the storage of confidential and personal vital health information by these devices.

Global mobile ad market to touch $32bn

The global market for mobile advertising is projected to reach $32 billion by the year 2017, driven by the rising ownership of mobile phones, increasing use of sophisticated mobile devices including smartphones, and availability of high bandwidth, high speed data networks, according to a report by Global Industry Analysts.
The potential for growth is particularly high in the emerging markets of Asia and Latin America due to the large population base with significantly high penetration of mobile devices.
Japan, Asia-Pacific, and the United States dominate the global mobile advertising space. Messaging represents the largest segment in the global mobile advertising, while the search segment is set to witness fastest growth through 2017.
SMS is the most primitive and the most cost-effective means of mobile advertising, as almost every mobile user in the world has access to SMS service.
Familiarity with SMS also grants advertisers an opportunity to bridge digital and traditional campaigns such as offering SMS codes in order to obtain more information. Japan represents the single largest market for messaging.