Global smartphone sales are expected to top one billion in 2013, driven by low-cost handset and gains in emerging markets, a research firm says.
International Data Corp says it sees the smartphone market growing 40 per cent this year, and will likely grow to 1.7 billion annually by 2017.
Overall mobile phone sales will grow 7.4 per cent, rebounding from a nearly flat year in 2012, IDC said. Total mobile handset sales are expected to be some 1.8 billion, with more than half of that in the smartphone segment.
Smartphone growth is the result of a variety of factors, including steep device subsidies from carriers, especially in mature economic markets, as well as a growing array of sub-$US200 smartphones.
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