Emerging markets the biggest driver of smartphone dominance.
Global sales of smartphones totaled on 968 million last year, which was an increase of 42.3 per cent from 2012, reports Gartner.
This equated to smartphones owning 53.6 per cent of the total market, surpassing feature phones for the first time.
The fourth quarter of 2013 saw smartphone sales grow 36 per cent increasing to 57.6 per cent of overall sales – up from 44 per cent year-on-year.
This drive in sales was led by emerging markets such as Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, Asia/Pacific and Eastern Europe, where it grew by over 50 per cent in Q4 2013.
India however made the biggest impact with a 166.8 per cent increase in the fourth quarter – China also contributed a significant part to the market with a 86.3 per cent growth in 2013.
Upstream predicted in December last year, that these emerging markets would increase ad revenue by 70 per cent in 2014, however if sales continue to grow at such a rate, we could see that figure surge.
Concerning devices, Samsung sat comfortably at the top of table with a 31.0 per cent share of the market, followed by Apple with 15.6 per cent.
Huawei and LG shared third with 4.8 per cent a piece and Lenovo answered for 4.5 per cent share.
Android is rapidly on its way to hitting one billion sales this year – as it claims the top spot in global OS use with a 78.4 per cent share, and obviously – even if a long way off - iOS at second with 15.6 per cent.
Microsoft came next with 3.2 per cent and BlackBerry with 1.9 per cent

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