Smartphones
Are Impacting PDA Sales
Most
Future PDA Sales Increase Will Come from Smartphones
June 30, 2003 - The sales of traditional PDAs slowed or declined in the last two years. The soft economy was a big contributing factor, but the growth of PDA-Phones or Smartphones is also a contributing factor. When Smartphones are included in PDA sales as shown in the table below, the worldwide PDA demand did not decline in 2002, but saw a small sales increase.
Most of the Smartphone demand has come in Europe and Smartphone sales is likely to top 50% of total PDAs in 2003. Strong growth is also expected in Asia and the USA.
The Symbian
software platform is prevalent in Europe and leads the PDA-Phone/Smartphone
segment. The cell phone manufacturers have the most extensive distribution
channel network for Smartphones and this will favor Symbian-based devices
in other regions. As the PC/PDA manufacturers get on the Smartphone bandwagon,
Symbian will see stronger competition. However, for Pocket PC or Palm
devices to challenge Symbian, some of the leading cell phone manufacturers
and/or the cell phone operators must embrace the Pocket PC or Palm platforms.
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2006 |
2008 |
|
| Worldwide: | ||||||
| PDA Sales (#K) | 15,336 |
15,714 |
18,946 |
23,854 |
38,320 |
58,509 |
| PDA-Phone/Smartphone Portion (%) | 4.3 |
10.8 |
20.6 |
29.3 |
39.3 |
45.0 |
| USA: | ||||||
| PDA Sales (#K) | 6,560 |
6,410 |
6,940 |
8,090 |
11,730 |
17,170 |
| PDA-Phone/Smartphone Portion (%) | 0.5 |
3.0 |
8.5 |
16.0 |
27.5 |
35.0 |
| W. Europe: | ||||||
| PDA Sales (#K) | 2,650 |
2,870 |
3,910 |
5,040 |
7,890 |
11,400 |
| PDA-Phone/Smartphone Portion (%) | 20.0 |
39.0 |
53.0 |
59.0 |
62.0 |
63.0 |
“The demand for PDA functionality has not decreased, but the type of mobile device the customer wants is changing”, says Dr. Egil Juliussen, the author of the report. “ This trend lowered traditional PDA sales in several regional markets in 2002, but Smartphones sales made up for the decline.”
These are results from a new market research report by Computer Industry Almanac. The report explores the markets, technologies, computer platforms and product segments for PDAs including market estimates for six regions of the world from 1998 to 2008. Computer Industry Almanac publishes market research reports for the PC, PDA, information appliances and Internet industries. For more information see Market Research Reports.
