The line between phone handsets and other mobile devices is about to blur when talking about mobile technology and mobile marketing. ABI Resarch reports that mobile device shipments will grow from 1.2 billion in 2009 to 2.25 billion in 2014.
For mobile marketers, this means it’s extremely important to think of mobile marketing opportunities as more than just those designed for smartphones and other mobile handsets.
“The next five years we will see a shift in the breakdown between types of mobile devices shipped,” said ABI analyst Michael Morgan in a statement. “Today wireless handsets rule the roost, with other mobile devices accounting for only 40 million shipments and cellular modems only 60 million. While handset shipments did actually decrease between 2008 and 2009 due to the global recession, (other) segments in fact grew very aggressively.”
Handset sales are growing at just 4%, while cellular modem shipments are expected to grow by 40% annually, and ultra mobile devices by 67%, according to ABI Research. These changes put smartphones in “direct competition with a variety of other device segments for consumer’s dollars.”
ABI Research’s Mobile Devices Annual Market Overview highlights key device segment trends and market considerations across many mobile device categories including mobile handsets and handset accessories, Ultra Mobile PCs, netbooks, MIDs, cellular modems, WiMAX devices and consumer electronics.
