According to new statistics, the 3.5G handset category is the fastest-growing segment among all mobile models announced by vendors.
Market research outfit, ABI, says 56% of handsets models shipped in 2009 were 3.5G-ready devices, while the number of 2G and 2.5G models dropped in comparison.
In its Smartphones & Mobile Devices Research Service, ABI also noted that global mobile handset shipments totaled about 1.15 billion in 2009, with “enhanced phones and smartphones” capturing approximately 81% of all handset shipments. So, we’re all trending onwards and upwards when it comes to mobile, it would appear.
GPS enabled handsets were another trending mobile topic, with ABI observing the technology had attained “a solid position in the automotive segment and is gaining traction in mobile phones, becoming a hot wireless connectivity application for smart phone designers and manufacturers.”
Indeed, GPS penetration in newer handsets had reached 48% in 2009 compared with 29% in 2008, said the company.
In terms of form factor, the bar still seems to be setting the bar, so to speak, accounting for 51% of announced handset models. Sliding into second place are slider handsets at 27%, with clamshell handsets fishing for third place with 19% market share among announced models, after a long decline.
When it comes to operating system trends, it seems hot is not necessarily the most predominant, with both Android and iPhone OS being left in the dust as Microsoft Windows Mobile continues to speed ahead with the highest adoption rate. Coming in second place is Nokia’s Symbian, although some analysts RCR has spoken to believe Symbian is in for massive decline over the next couple of years.
In terms of chipsets, ABI believes Qualcomm’s Snapdragon, TI’s OMAP, Intel’s Atom and Nvidia’s Tegra are driving the markets for 3G and 3.5G technology, while Altair Semiconductor, Wavesat, and Comsys Mobile are leading the development of 4th Generation LTE and WiMAX chipsets.
Commenting on the latest trends, ABI analyst Celia Bo, reiterated that in recent years “major technology and application trends in handset design have focused on 3G (and beyond) capabilities including web surfing, social networking, multimedia, connectivity, better cameras, VoIP, pico projectors and more.”
So expect handsets to keep pushing the boundaries.
