TOKYO-Japan’s smart handheld device market finished 1998 with 1.42 million shipments, an annual increase of 24.3 percent, and the market is expected to reach just under 10 million units in 2003, according to International Data Corp.
While handheld companions receive the most media attention, smart phones are coming on strong in Japan, added IDC. The firm expects the market to reach 2.4 million units in 2001 and believes it has the potential to represent more than one-half of the total SHD market by 2003.
IDC also said the smart phone market in Japan grew 86.3 percent to 323,200 units, and is expected to more than double in 1999, but the personal digital assistant segment did not fare as well in 1998, and shipments actually declined for the first time ever to 311,800 units.
