Low-Cost Vendors to Challenge Tier Ones

Juniper Research has said that smartphone shipments will reach 1.2 billion this year: a 19% YoY rise from 2013’s 985 million. Emerging markets, with high uptake of low-cost models, will drive growth. Products from China’s Xiaomi and those launched under Google’s Android One initiative are likely to challenge major vendors like Apple and Samsung in emerging countries. However, Juniper still expects Apple and Samsung to have a combined smartphone share of 45%. Smartphone ASPs will fall to $274 by 2019, the firm predicted.