Smartphones capable of ultra-high speed mobile Internet led the charge in pushing for record uptake of smartphones worldwide as more than 251.4 million of these devices were shipped out for the third quarter of 2013, according to a recent report by Strategy Analytics.
With 45% growth in smartphone uptake over the same period last year, smartphones now account for six in 10 mobile phones shipped globally as more consumers prefer more powerful mobile devices over what are referred to as “feature phones.”
“The smartphone industry’s robust growth is being driven by strong demand for LTE models in developed regions like the [United States] and 3G devices in emerging markets such as China,” said Linda Sui, analyst at Strategy Analytics.
LTE Smartphones
LTE (Long-Term Evolution) phones are capable of providing mobile Internet speeds of up to 100 Mbps, enabling more multimedia content to be enjoyed even while users are in transit or away from their homes and offices.
In the Philippines, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is paving the way for more Filipinos to experience 4G-LTE speeds all over the country as it currently leads in coverage and rollout with more than 1,000 sites covering 180 cities and municipalities, including Metro Manila, as well as areas in North Luzon, South Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.
Smart also offers a broad range of LTE devices available for local subscribers, including the recently released Galaxy Note 3 which is currently available at All-In Plan 1800 (with monthly P199 cash out), the Sony Xperia Z and the Samsung Galaxy S4—both free under UnliData Plan 2000—and the sturdy Nokia Lumia 925, currently available for free at Unli Data Plan 1500.
“With the record rise in smartphone adoption here and around the world, subscribers have the power to unlock the potential of their phones with an ultra-fast and reliable LTE connection which only Smart can deliver locally,” said Kathryn Carag, Head of Postpaid Marketing at Smart. “Smart is committed to providing the best smartphone experience to Filipinos by continually offering the latest models that work best on our widely available and reliable mobile network.”
For the period, South Korean electronics brand Samsung shipped more than twice as much smartphones than its chief rival, US-based technology giant Apple, with 88.4 million units shipped over the latter’s 33.8 million mobile devices.
The Huawei Ascend G610, which Smart recently launched with the All-In Plan 800 bundle, is also among the more popular smartphones that lifted Huawei’s positioning in the global smartphone arena to land in the third spot.
Other Asian mobile manufacturers, such as South Korea’s LG and China’s Lenovo, each grabbed the fourth and fifth spot in the rankings, respectively, with 12 million and 10.8 million smartphones coming from the two vendors during the period.
“Just like users around the world, it’s clear that Filipinos want to get the most out of their mobile devices,” Carag added. “Smartphones are intelligent devices that, when partnered with a reliable and future-proof mobile service like Smart’s vast LTE network, can surely deliver all the mobile needs of subscribers.”
