"China will surpass U.S. in smartphone shipments in 2012: IDC"

 

China will surpass the US in smartphone shipments this year, technology research firm International Data Corporation (IDC) predicted.

According to the US-based firm’s estimates, manufacturers will ship approximately 660 million smartphones in 2012.

Of the total shipments, China is predicted to account for a 20.7 per cent share of the worldwide smartphone market, more than the U. S. share of 20.6 per cent. It may be noted here that China started outselling the U. S. in smartphones shipments in the second half of 2011.

The IDC also predicted that the U. S. would most probably never regain the title of the world’s

largest market for smartphones.

The U. K. will grab the third spot, with a 4.5 per cent share of the total smartphone shipments.

Developing countries India and Brazil are expected to grab fourth and fifth positions, 2.9 per cent and 2.3 per cent shares of the market, respectively.

Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst at IDC's mobile phone technology & trends team, said, "Due to their sheer size, strong demand, and healthy replacement rates, emerging markets are quickly becoming the engines of the worldwide smartphone market.”

By the year of 2016, China will account for 20.2 per cent share of the worldwide smartphone market, followed by the U. S., India and Brazil, which will grab 15.3 per cent, 9.3 per cent and 4.7 per cent of the market.