Record smartphone growth

THE WORLDWIDE converged mobile device (smartphone) market reached a new record level in Q4 last year, IDC reports. Vendors shipped 54.5 million units in that quarter, up 39% from the same quarter a year before. A total of 174.2 million units were shipped in 2009, up 15.1% from the 151.4 million units in 2008.

Converged mobile devices accounted for 15.4% of all mobile phones shipped in 2009, up slightly from 12.7% in 2008.

IDC expects ongoing demand to drive the worldwide converged mobile device market to a new shipment record in 2010.