Industryweek 3173 1smartphonepile
Industryweek 3173 1smartphonepile
Industryweek 3173 1smartphonepile
Industryweek 3173 1smartphonepile
Industryweek 3173 1smartphonepile

1.2 Billion Smartphones, Tablets to Sell in 2013

Nov. 6, 2012
Tablets will be a key to mobility for workers, with 13 million tablets used for business this year, rising to 53 million by 2016.

Global sales of "smart devices," which include smartphones and tablets, will hit 821 million worldwide this year and 1.2 billion in 2013, a research firm said Tuesday.

Gartner Inc. said these devices are gaining strong momentum, as many consumers opt to use them instead of personal computers.

"For most businesses, smartphones and tablets will not entirely replace PCs, but the ubiquity of smartphones and the increasing popularity of tablets are changing the way businesses look at their device strategies and the way consumers embrace devices," said Carolina Milanesi, research vice president at Gartner.

By 2016, Milanesi said, "two-thirds of the mobile workforce will own a smartphone, and 40% of the workforce will be mobile."

She said tablets will be a key to mobility for workers, with 13 million tablets used for business this year, rising to 53 million by 2016.

Gartner estimates that 56% of smartphones purchased by businesses in North America and Europe will be Android devices in 2016, up from 34% in 2012.

"Today the wide range of brands and price points that the Android ecosystem is offering is winning over users. While Apple remains the heartbeat by which the market moves, Google has rapidly become its archrival," she said.

A separate survey by research firm IDC last week found three out of four smartphones shipped worldwide used the Google-backed mobile platform, even though Apple's iOS devices are growing.

Milanesi said BlackBerry maker Research in Motion, long the dominant force in smartphones, "has a huge challenge ahead in regaining its key presence in the enterprise."

She said that in the business market, Windows 8 will take the number three position in the tablet market behind Apple and Android by 2016, with interest coming more from businesses than consumers.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2012

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Empowering the Modern Workforce: The Power of Connected Worker Technologies

March 1, 2024
Explore real-world strategies to boost worker safety, collaboration, training, and productivity in manufacturing. Emphasizing Industry 4.0, we'll discuss digitalization and automation...

3 Best Practices to Create a Product-Centric Competitive Advantage with PRO.FILE PLM

Jan. 25, 2024
Gain insight on best practices and strategies you need to accelerate engineering change management and reduce time to market. Register now for your opportunity to accelerate your...

Transformative Capabilities for XaaS Models in Manufacturing

Feb. 14, 2024
The manufacturing sector is undergoing a pivotal shift toward "servitization," or enhancing product offerings with services and embracing a subscription model. This transition...

Shifting Your Business from Products to Service-Based Business Models: Generating Predictable Revenues

Oct. 27, 2023
Executive summary on a recent IndustryWeek-hosted webinar sponsored by SAP

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!