Manufacturers are already thinking about other emerging markets when planning for future smartphone growth. China accounted for one out of every three smartphones shipped around the world in 2013, but is reaching saturation, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker.
IDC says smartphones already account for over 80% of China’s total phone sales. The next half billion new smartphone customers will increasingly come mainly from India and Africa, the research firm predicts.
"The China boom is now
slowing," said Melissa Chau,
Senior Research Manager for mobile devices at IDC Asia/Pacific. "China is becoming more like mature
markets in North America and Western Europe, where smartphone sales growth is
slackening off."
Xiaomi already has the Redmi, while Nokia announced the Android Open Source Project-based Nokia X family of low-end smartphones and accompanying developer platform at the Mobile World Congress in Spain on February 24. The
Nokia Xs are positioned between the Asha feature phones and high end
Lumia smartphones, allowing the phone maker a stab at a new market.
Based
on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), and backed by Nokia's deep
ties with operators, the Nokia X platform gives Android(TM) developers
the chance to tap into, and profit from, a rapidly expanding part of the
market. The launch builds on Nokia's leadership in delivering
innovation to more price points with its family of Lumia smartphones,
and the latest momentum for Windows Phone. - See more at:
http://press.nokia.com/2014/02/24/nokia-welcomes-android-developers-expands-global-developer-footprint-with-momentum-across-lumia-and-asha/#sthash.mvMryHhu.dpuf
oday
at Mobile World Congress, Nokia unveiled five new affordable handsets
including a new family of smartphones debuting on the Nokia X software
platform. Based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), and backed by
Nokia's deep ties with operators, the Nokia X platform gives
Android(TM) developers the chance to tap into, and profit from, a
rapidly expanding part of the market. The launch builds on Nokia's
leadership in delivering innovation to more price points with its family
of Lumia smartphones, and the latest momentum for Windows Phone. - See
more at:
http://press.nokia.com/2014/02/24/nokia-welcomes-android-developers-expands-global-developer-footprint-with-momentum-across-lumia-and-asha/#sthash.mvMryHhu.dpuf
India will be key to future
smartphone growth as it represents more than a quarter of the global feature
phone market. "Growth in the India market doesn't rely on high-end devices
like the iPhone, but in low-cost Android phones. Nearly half of the smartphones
shipped in India in 2013 cost less than US$120," said Kiranjeet
Kaur, Senior Market Analyst for mobile phones at IDC
Asia/Pacific.
