14 DAY TRIAL // Berg Insight has recently published a new research report that shows that, last year, GPS-enabled GSM/WCDMA handsets registered a global shipment volume higher by 178.6 percent, reaching 78.0 million units in total. In addition, the shipments are expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 46.5 percent, which would mean that a total of 770 million units will be shipped by 2014.
It is widely known that smartphones include the GPS technology, and that it comes as a standard feature in all the new models tier one vendors have recently released on the market or plan to introduce in the near future, and mid-range handset models are expected to include the feature as well. According to Berg Insight, said devices will be sporting GPS starting with late 2009, and the feature is also predicted to become a standard spec for the segment during the following years.
The research report also lists some of the reasons that will drive the industry into adopting GPS in more mobile phones. André Malm, senior analyst, Berg Insight, says the following: “The mobile industry has a strategic interest in creating a platform for location-based services, which is perceived as an area with many new untapped business opportunities.”
In addition, the fact that a handset comes with GPS capabilities also turns into a selling argument for the mobile phone makers, in their attempt to gain more market share. In some countries the GPS technology is even required for the handset to be approved for sale on the market, as it should offer high-accuracy positioning and ease intervention in case of emergency calls made from mobile phones. For what it's worth, GPS is one of the technologies that should see a lot of traction from mobile phone users in 2009 and during the following year, and manufacturers are also expected to make advancements in the area.