The UCStrategies Experts share their expertise in bylined articles, opinion pieces, blogs, and podcasts, to define unified communications, educate you about unified communications technologies, and help you make informed decisions about unified communications solutions.
UCStrategies.com defines unified communications as “Communications integrated to optimize business processes.” The definition of unified communications narrows significantly when you can read and hear about real-world examples that other companies are implementing right now—and apply them to your situation.
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This year, the total number of smartphone shipments to retailers worldwide is predicted to reach 717 million, which is 45 percent more than what was shipped in 2011, according to International Data Corporation (IDC). But for the sales of all types of mobile phones, IDC projects a paltry 1.4 percent increase from last year’s figure. The global growth rate for mobile phones is the smallest recorded by IDC in three years. IDC predicts global shipments to reach 1.7 billion in 2012.
For smartphone shipments, however, IDC anticipates a record-breaking fourth quarter, with the holiday shipments alone topping at 224.5 million smartphones, a 39.5 percent increase from 2011’s figure. The robust fourth quarter is largely composed of iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S3 sales along with inexpensive Android phones shipped to China and other markets.
Samsung sells the most number of Android smartphones, and the Android base has catapulted LG Electronics and Sony to the third quarter’s top five list of smartphone vendors.
Most of 2012 sees the Android’s global market share to reach 68.3 percent. It is followed by the Apple’s iPhone at 18.8 percent, RIM’s BlackBerry at 4.75 percent, and Windows Phone at 2.6 percent.
According to IDC, Android’s strong showing has the biggest market growth this year, taking up to a 49 percent market share increase from 2011. The iPhone, on the other hand, maintains the same 18.8 percent market share as it did in 2011. BlackBerry’s 4.75 percent represents a slump from its over 10 percent market share in 2011.
During the next four years, Windows Phone is predicted by IDC to be the fastest growing smartphone OS. Its market share is projected to increase from 2.6 percent in 2012 to 11.4 percent in 2016. Plus, IDC expects that the Windows Phone will compete against BlackBerry for the third spot in 2013. Windows Phone 8 is also said to add to the bottom lines of HTC and Nokia, as well as to those of Huawei, Samsung, and ZTE.
“Android is expected to stay in front, but we also expect it to be the biggest target for competing operating systems to grab market share,” said Ramon Llamas, mobile phone team research manager at IDC. “At the same time, Windows Phone stands to gain the most market share as its smartphone and carrier partners have gained valuable experience in selling the differentiated experience Windows Phone has to offer. What bears close observation is how BlackBerry's new platform, BlackBerry 10, and multiple versions of Linux will affect the market once the devices running these systems are available.”
And by 2016, BlackBerry is projected to fall off to 4.1 percent market share, while iPhone remains somewhat consistent with a 19.1 percent year-ending share. As for Android, its market share is predicted to drop to 63.8 percent while enjoying an 18 percent yearly growth rate through 2016. (KOM) Link