IDC raises smartphone outlook

Robert Clark | September 09, 2010

telecomasia.net

Research firm IDC has lifted its smartphone sales forecast by 10% as BlackBerrys, Androids and iPhones continue to fly off the shelves.

IDC expects 2010 smartphone shipments to reach 269.6 million, up 55.4% over last year, compared with its earlier prediction of 245 million.

IDC says the sales spike, driven by new model launches such as the BlackBerry Torch, HTC’s EVO 4G and the iPhone 4, will also carry total handset sales higher. IDC has raised its full-year handset outlook from 12.6% growth to 14.1%.

IDC senior research analyst Kevin Restivo said further product releases “and an expected flurry of smartphone buying activity in the second half of the year will push the market well above previous expectations.”

Android is expected to be the fastest mover among the OSes, increasing its market share from 16.3% to 24.6% for the full year. Symbian will retain 32.9% market share, while BlackBerry’s share of the market will remain steady, IDC has forecast.

“Android is the wild card, deserving close observation for the rest of this year and the years to come,” said IDC senior research analyst Ramon Llamas.

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