14 DAY TRIAL // The total volume of handset shipments went up to approximately 1.15 billion in 2009, a recent report from ABI Research shows. According to the research firm, almost 81 percent of this amount was represented by enhanced phones and smartphones, showing the great appeal this type of devices enjoys on the global market.
“In recent years the major technology and application trends in handset design have focused on 3G (and beyond) capabilities including web surfing, social networking, multimedia, connectivity, better cameras, VoIP, pico projectors and more,” industry analyst Celia Bo commented on the findings of the report.
According to recent data from ABI Research, the fastest growing segment among all mobile phone models that came to the market is the 3.5G handset category. The number of such devices brought to the market by handset vendors around the world reached 56 percent of total shipments in 2009, while the amount of shipped 2G and 2.5G models went down.
Another fast growing area in handsets is that of smartphones that boast Global Positioning System features. This functionality has managed to become a “hot wireless connectivity application for smartphone designers and manufacturers,” ABI Research states, adding that the penetration rate of such handsets topped 48 percent in 2009 (up from 29 percent the year before).
Other findings of the report include: - Form Factors: In 2009, the bar form factor led the market, accounting for 51% of announced handset models, followed by slider handsets at 27%. After a long decline, clamshell handset models picked up 19% market share among announced models. - Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows Mobile still has the highest adoption rate among operating systems of newly launched models, with Symbian taking second place. - Handset Chipsets: The chipset is at the heart of a handset; it integrates multiple function blocks and aligns them to different operating system platforms. While Qualcomm’s Snapdragon, TI’s OMAP, Intel’s Atom and Nvidia’s Tegra are driving the markets for 3G and 3.5G technology, the development of 4th Generation LTE and WiMAX chipsets is primarily led by Altair Semiconductor, Wavesat, and Comsys Mobile, among others.
ABI Research’s “Mobile Device Model Tracker” Market Data report delivers info on the latest handset models in the market. Additional info on it can be found on ABI Research's website.