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Insights from the APAC Smartphone Market

Already known as the source of leading mobile multimedia innovations, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) smartphone market is now entering the mass adoption stage, with shipments in 2006 expected to double from 2005, according to In-Stat.

In 2006, 18.8 million smartphones will be sold in the APAC region, and that figure is expected to surge to 64.2 million in 2010. While it's noteworthy that mobile device designs are improving, it is also apparent that APAC operators offer their subscribers better mobile service usability. Meaning, the device is but one ingredient of the consumer experience.

"Major smartphone makers are providing better design, better functionality, and better cost structures, thus offering better product pricing and a long-term plan for product portfolios," says Victor Liu Zhoujiao, In-Stat analyst. "The APAC smartphone market is full of potential for existing players and new entrants."

In-Stat's market study found the following:

- More smartphone models will enter the market, but fewer variations of smartphone Operating Systems (OS) are expected.

- For long-term growth, vendors have been working on an OS adoption roadmap and a framework of helping application development.

- Growth has been driven by continuous functional improvement of smartphones, the introduction of middle-range models, better designs, the enrichment of third-party applications, and the popularity of high-speed wireless connectivity in public and private locations.

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