Smartphone sales to top 900 million in 2013: Survey
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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Smartphone sales are expected to extend their strong growth trend in 2013 with some 918 million units worldwide, led by gains in big emerging markets China, Brazil and India, a survey showed on Monday.
The research firm IDC said 2013 will be the first year smartphones will outsell the more basic feature phones in the mobile market, and will account for 50.1 per cent of all mobile phones.
"Smartphone prices have fallen globally, the smartphone strata are wider than ever, and the roll-out of data-centric fourth-generation wireless networks are three factors that have made these 'do-it-all' devices an increasingly attractive option for users," IDC said.
The research firm said that by the end of 2017, 1.5 billion smartphones will be shipped worldwide, over two-thirds of the total mobile phone market.
