Global shipments of smart phones, such as Apple Inc.'s iPhone, are expected to total 175 million units in 2010, up 15 percent over the previous year, and reach 343 million by 2013, a private market research firm said Thursday.
Attractive for their advanced computing ability and connectivity, global shipments of smart phones reached 89.87 million units in 2007, topping 100 million in 2008 and 150 million in 2009, according to Yano Research Institute Ltd.
Europe accounts for some 35 percent of the worldwide market for smart phones in terms of shipments, followed by the United States with a share of 28 percent.
Shipments in Japan are forecast to total 2.84 million units this year, up 46 percent from the previous year, and rise further to 5.71 million in 2013, Yano said.
The Tokyo-based research institute made the shipment projections based on hearings with handset makers and telecommunications operators, as well as related statistics.