Smartphone market worth more than standard mob market by 2012

According to a new study, smartphones account for a growing percentage of worldwide mobile phone revenue.

Research firm Infonetics Research says this is due in part to the increased access and availability of high-speed data networks across the US, Europe and Asia Pacific countries, which allows smartphone users internet access whilst on the move and indulging in music and video services while they do.

“Smartphones are on track to post a 14.5 per cent increase in the number of units sold worldwide in 2009, and a 21 per cent compound annual growth rate from 2008 to 2013, significantly better than other mobile phone segments,” said Richard Webb, directing analyst for mobile devices at Infonetics Research

“While smartphone revenue is expected to dip in 2009… we expect it to pick up in 2010 and continue growing, easily outstripping the combined revenue of standard mobile phones by 2012.”

By the new year, over 1 billion mobile phones will have been sold and the fastest growing market is the smartphone arena.

Vendors such as Research in Motion, makers of the BlackBerry, and Apple, which makes the iPhone, are gaining ground.

Competition for dominance in the smartphone war is increasing as iPhone applications prove a lucrative market, the choice of models themselves is growing as the BlackBerry, N900, Palm Pre and Android platforms aim to gain their fair share of the market.

According to Webb, Apple will have to fight hard to drive its market share back above 10 per cent.