Smartphones will rule over handsets market in 2013

Smartphones will rule over the handsets market in 2013, according to a report.

ABI Research said that the shipments of smartphones will account for half of all handset shipments by 2014 and become the largest handset segment in the world.

By 2018, smartphones will account for 69 per cent of all handset shipments.

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According to Enterprise Innovation, LTE handsets will account for 35 per cent of all handset shipments and half of smartphone shipments.

The growth in smartphone shipment penetration will be driven by the rapidly growing low-cost smartphone segment.

ABI Research forecasts that smartphones with wholesale ASPs below $250 will account for 62 per cent of smartphone shipments by 2018.

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Michael Morgan, senior analyst at ABI Research, said that barring an unlikely collapse in Samsung's business, even Apple will be chasing Samsung's technology, software, and device leadership in 2013 through the foreseeable future, the report said.

Since 2010, Samsung has grown its smartphone market share from 8 per cent to over 30 per cent in 2012; meanwhile Apple's market share is expected to peak in 2013 at 22 per cent, the report added.