Smartphone Market expected to grow by 50% in 2011

The global smartphone market is growing four times faster than the overall mobile phone market according to the latest projections by the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker.

IDC’s research suggests that the worldwide smartphone market is expected to grow 49.2% in 2011, with sales likely to exceed 450 million units in 2011 compared to the 303.4 million units shipped in 2010.

This growth is being driven by an ever-growing number of both consumers and business users switching feature phones for more sophisticated smartphones. And Google’s Android operating system is likely to take over as the leading smartphone operating system in 2011, having swiftly achieving the number 2 position last year. It’s also highly likely that an Android powered handset will be the first entry into smartphone ownership for many consumers as handset manufacturers and mobile operators continue to grow the market.

This growth will fuel the trend of continuing growth in internet access via mobile devices. This in turn will see marketers need to respond to changing consumer behaviour with innovation and invention.