Global Markets for Smartphones and PDAs

Report Highlights

• The market for smartphones and PDAs was valued at $58.7 billion in 2008. This is expected to reach $153.3 billion in 2013, for a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.2%
• Smartphones have the largest market share, worth $52.5 billion in 2008. This is expected to increase at a CAGR of 23.5% to reach $150.6 billion in 2013
• PDAs have the second largest share of the market and generated $6.2 billion in 2008. This segment is expected to decrease to $2.7 billion in 2013, for a CAGR of -15.4%

INTRODUCTION

One of the most visible symbols that underline the primacy of wireless telephony in our everyday lives is the presence of multi-functional handheld devices. Mobile phones have long outgrown their intended mandate of voice connectivity. The advanced models, known as smartphones, function as composite communication and computing devices. The wireless computing bug has bitten portable computing devices, commonly known as the personal digital assistant (PDA) as well. As a result, PDAs and smartphones, regardless of their origin, resemble each other and can be grouped together under the term “mobile computing.”

• Forecasting the size of the total market for mobile computing devices
• Comparison and contrast of the two major devices: smartphones and PDAs
• Categorize the global market for these two devices along waveforms, stakeholders, geographical regions, and operating systems.
• Analyze the relative strengths and weaknesses of each operating system and waveforms.
• Explain the value proposition and challenges confronting original design manufacturers (ODMs)
• Highlight the roles played by major stakeholders and players.
• Overview the activities of influential companies.
• Enlist crucial innovation breakthroughs through a detailed patent analysis.

• A high degree of similarity between the current architectures of PDAs and smartphones
• Diverse genesis and evolution paths of PDAs and smartphones
• Diverse future paths for PDAs and smartphones
• Impact of the forecast on PDA and smartphone stakeholders

• Highlights the similarities and more importantly, enunciates the differences between PDAs and smartphones on various aspects
• Analyzes the suitability and impact of waveforms on mobile computing devices
• Discusses the suitability of operating systems and strategies of their stakeholders toward mobile computing devices
• Elaborates the role of ODMs and their inter-relationship with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and contract manufacturers
• Breaks down the market along PDAs and smartphones
• Further breaks down the market along operating systems, waveforms, and stakeholders
• Provides a regional breakdown of all these classifications

• OEMs, ODMs, and contract manufacturers of mobile computing devices in identifying the size and regional distribution of the mobile computing device market
• Waveform stakeholders in assessing the prospects of their technology vis-à-vis mobile computing devices
• Operating system stakeholders in appraising their strategies against their competitors vis-à-vis mobile computing devices
• Wireless operators in gaining from the pricing trends and regional forecasts of mobile computing devices
• Component suppliers in deriving from the shipment volumes of handheld computing devices and their distribution across waveforms 

• Robustness of technology succession plans and stakeholder initiatives with respect to waveforms
• Track record of stakeholder drivers and their adaptability to the changing realities of revenue models and creation of solid ecosystems with respect to operating systems
• Regional growth trends and country specific scenario in relation to the strengths of respective waveform families and operating system stakeholder presence with respect to geographical regions
• Historical pricing trends and the impact of financial meltdown on these pricing trends

• Published industry data
• Shipment reports of non-listed companies
• 10-K reports 

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