Infonetics: LTE smartphones up 151% in 4th quarter

CAMPBELL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Infonetics Research released excerpts from its 4^th quarter 2012 (4Q12) and year-end 3G and 4G Mobile Broadband Devices and Subscribers market share and forecast report.

“Similarly in the tablet space, the growing popularity of low-cost LTE tablets, shared data plans, and improved LTE network coverage (especially in developed markets like North America and Western Europe), will drive LTE-enabled tablets to close the gap on WiFi-only tablets by 2017.”

The comprehensive report tracks over 50 mobile broadband market segments and sub-segments, including smartphones, operating systems (OS), routers, cards, USBs, embedded devices (such as tablets) and subscribers, all by the type of network they connect to, including Long Term Evolution (LTE), W-CDMA/HSPA, and other networks.

ANALYST NOTE

“FDD-LTE was the biggest driver for smartphone growth in the final quarter of 2012, with unit growth of 151%, the second straight quarter of triple-digit growth,” reports Julien Blin, directing analyst for consumer electronics and mobile broadband at Infonetics Research. “TDD-LTE smartphones are also ramping fast, albeit from a much smaller base, despite a temporary dip in growth in the 4^th quarter. In 2012, 5 times as many W-CDMA/HSPA smartphones shipped as LTE smartphones. By 2015 we expect LTE smartphones to overtake W-CDMA/HSPA.”

Blin adds, “Similarly in the tablet space, the growing popularity of low-cost LTE tablets, shared data plans, and improved LTE network coverage (especially in developed markets like North America and Western Europe), will drive LTE-enabled tablets to close the gap on WiFi-only tablets by 2017.”

MOBILE BROADBAND DEVICE MARKET HIGHLIGHTS

• The global smartphone market totaled $247 billion in 2012, up 51% from 2011
• Owing to the introduction of the iPhone 5, Apple regained its lead in smartphone revenue market share in 4Q12 with 37%, followed by Samsung with 29%; Samsung maintains its lead in smartphone unit share
• Sales of tablets reached $42 billion worldwide in 2012, jumping 281% over 2011
• In 2012, shipments of standalone USB mobile broadband cards grew steadily, driven by W-CDMA shipments in developing countries and LTE growth in developed markets
• Meanwhile, embedded cards declined as the more functional tablet segment overshadowed embedded PCs and mobile internet devices (MIDs)
• Infonetics expects the number of global mobile broadband subscribers (phone and PC) to grow from 1.2 billion in 2012 to close to 3 billion by 2017

REPORT SYNOPSIS

Infonetics' quarterly mobile broadband report provides worldwide and regional market size, vendor market share, forecasts through 2017, analysis, and trends for smartphones, smartphone OS (Android, Blackberry, iPhone, Linux, Palm, Symbian, Windows Mobile, other), netbook OS (Linux, Mac, Windows, other), tablet OS (Android, iOS, Windows, other), USBs, cards, routers, embedded devices (PCs, netbooks, tablets, mobile internet devices), and subscribers. Technologies tracked: W-CDMA/HSPA, CDMA2000/EV-DO, TD-SCDMA, FDD-LTE, TDD-LTE, and WiMAX. Companies tracked: Apple, Dell, HTC, Huawei, LG, Motorola, Nokia, Novatel, Qualcomm, RIM, Samsung, Sierra Wireless, Sony, ZTE, and others. To buy the report, contact Infonetics: http://www.infonetics.com/contact.asp.

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ABOUT INFONETICS

Infonetics Research (www.infonetics.com) is an international market research and consulting firm serving the communications industry since 1990. A leader in defining and tracking emerging and established technologies in all world regions, Infonetics helps clients plan, strategize, and compete effectively. View Infonetics’ About Us slides at http://bit.ly/QUrbrV.