'Superphone' predictions
Gartner said Android is likely to get a boost as manufacturers like Samsung launch new budget devices that will drive the os into new market segments, while Sony Ericsson, LG and Motorola are likely to follow a similar strategy. The firm predicts this trend will enable Android to take the top spot as North America's favourite os by the close of this year.
"Providers and mobile device manufacturers alike will need to revisit their platform strategies and balance the need to pursue platforms with the highest current demand against the need to maintain differentiation with unique devices. Providers will likely reduce the number of platforms they offer, to reduce their support costs and clarify their propositions to market," said Cozza.
In more market research news Strategy Analytics believes global ‘superphone' shipments will grow by 55 percent to top 100m units in 2015, driven by the likes of Samsung, HTC and Android in developed markets.
The firm said a superphone is defined as a high-end smartphone with a display bigger than 4 inches and a processor faster than 1GHz.
"Superphones are at the forefront of computerizing the handset market. Superphone models, such as the Samsung Galaxy S and HTC Evo 4G, are driving more PC-like features into the hands of mobile consumers. Operators can launch advanced Internet services with superphones to lift their data revenues, while component makers can design cutting-edge products with higher profit margins such as dual-core application processors or 512MB RAM memory," said Neil Mawston, director at Strategy Analytics.
