Cheap smartphone shipments to pass 750 million by 2018

August 9th, 2013, 22:07 Posted By: wraggster

Lower costs give emerging markets the opportunity to experience a better device.
The cheap smartphones - which are defined as being a device with a wholesale price under $200 - are appearing more often in manufacturers portfolios, both pin the emerging and developed markets.
Shipments of the cheaper handsets are forecasted to increase from 238 million this year, to 758 million by 2018 driven mainly by BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China) who have low penetration of smartphones and large subscriber bases, reports ABI Research.
Nokia recently released a £200 Lumia 625, in a bid to battle the lowering prices of Android devices. The 4.7inch screened smartphone, along with other lower cost devices, opens up the world of high-end devices to more consumers, giving them the opportunity to experience the benefits of a better phone.
Jeff Orr, senior practice director at ABI Research, said: "We are increasingly seeing low cost smartphones appear as a solution for prepaid operators in developed markets. By 2018, ABI Research believes low cost smartphones will account for 44 per cent of all smartphone shipments as the market looks to capture the next billion smartphone users."
Cheap device developers such as Huawei - whose revenues hit $18.4 billion in the first half of this year - and ZTE are pushing their market share to increase brand recognition in a bid to move up the market - a move which could put significant pressure on the higher end OEMs (Original equipment manufacturers) such as Samsung and Apple.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...by-2018/022096

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