New research shows the worldwide smart-phone market continues to grow, while sales of handheld computers decline, but that regional differences make for a jumbled marketplace.
“These regional differences can have quite profound effects on future global market progression,” said Chris Jones, director and senior analyst for research and consulting firm Canalys. “It is very easy for companies in a strong position in one territory to assume they can carry that success into others, but a product design and brand that is accepted in, for example, the U.S., may not do so well in Europe or Asia, and vice versa. In the smart-phone and wireless handheld segments the vendor’s operator relationships are also critical.”
According to Canalys, Nokia Corp. stands atop the advanced device market with a 28-percent market share. Canalys breaks down the advanced device market into three categories: smart phones like the Sony Ericsson P900 and the PalmOne Treo 600; wireless handhelds like Research In Motion Ltd.’s BlackBerrys and the T-Mobile MDA II; and handheld computers like the Hewlett-Packard Co. iPAQ h1940 and the Sony Corp. CLI
