Multimedia, Data-Rich Mobile Phones Rapidly Taking Market Share in Asia

In-Stat: Cutting-edge mobile phones—phones integrated with various multimedia and rich-data functionalities—are rapidly increasing their share of phones shipped in the Asia Pacific market. For example, with 252.3 million mobile phones shipped in the region in 2005, 53.4% had camera functions, the high-tech market research firm says. The plunging price of such models in emerging markets has greatly promoted their adoption. Digital cameras, including both digital still camera and video camera, will remain the most popular function of cutting-edge phones. By 2009, 67% of mobiles sold in Asia Pacific will have camera functionality.

• Phones with music-playing capabilities accounted for 23% of phones sold; that figure is above the Global average of 13.6%.

• By 2009, the functionality and quality of music playing on mobile phones will be greatly enhanced, with music phones likely to be in direct competition with stand-alone music players.

• Mobile digital broadcasting TV phones, and cellular phones with alternative wireless broadband connectivity, were introduced to early adopters in South Korea and Japan in 2005.

Cutting Edge Mobile Handsets in Asia

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