India will be the world’s third largest smartphone market by 2017 only after China and US, according to IDC. The market intelligence firm’s study predicts the Indian smartphone market to attract 2.78 crore shipments in 2013, accounting for 3% of worldwide market share.
Worldwide trends 2013 – Top 3 smartphone markets
Smartphone shipments are set to overtake feature phone shipments on a global market-wide level for the first time in 2013. IDC predicts that vendors will ship nearly 92 crore smartphones worldwide. These shipments will account for 50.1% or slightly more than half of total mobile phone shipments globally.
China will continue to be the largest smartphone market in 2013. IDC expects over 30 crore shipments to find their way to the Chinese smartphone market. The world’s most populous country is expected to attract 32.8% of the worldwide smartphone market share. By the end of 2012, China had 112 crore mobile subscriptions or 17.67% of the total mobile subscriptions in the world.
US will be the second largest market with 13.75 crore expected smartphone shipments in 2013. IDC predicts growth levels in smartphone shipments to US to diminish as the market saturates. The firm notes that Blackberry and Windows will try to assert importance in the Apple dominated market.
IDC expects UK to be the world’s third largest smartphone market in 2013. Tepid economic growth levels and high existing levels of smartphone penetration are expected to outweigh the opportunities generated by new network technologies and other favourable factors.
Worldwide trends 2017 – Top 3 smartphone markets
According to IDC, China will continue to remain the world’s largest smartphone market over the next five years. More than 45 crore smartphone shipments are expected in 2017 however growth levels may decline as the market matures.
US will remain the world’s second largest smartphone market however it will take a dip in terms of global market share.
India has been termed as an ’emerging market’ and IDC predicts that the Indian smartphone market will log growth levels of 459.7% over the next five years. The Indian market is expected to attract 15.56 crore smartphone shipments in 2017, accounting for 10.3% of the worldwide smartphone market.
India outlook
IDC predicts that the Indian smartphone market will witness growth levels that are higher than any other top markets in the world. The research firm predicts that the availability of low-cost devices, expansion of 3G networks and implementation of 4G networks will be among the key factors driving high volumes in the Indian smartphone market.
India’s vast potential as a leading market for smart connected devices has been highlighted by commentators and research reports time and again. Favourable factors are poised to inject smart technology in an otherwise feature phone dominated India mobile market. Low smartphone penetration, high headroom for growth, young population with a higher disposable income and a rising appetite for technology make India a very lucrative market.
It will be a good thing for Indians but how many devices will be by Nokia?
Nokia market share is falling down…and even in the smartphone space, their Windows 8 phones are not doing that well from sales perspective…given the high price point they have kept on the phones… So my guess is Nokia market share will keep going down in a foreseeable future..