'USD 228 bn worth PCs, phones to be shipped globally by 2017'

By Gizbot Bureau

| Published: Friday, March 20, 2015, 12:46 [IST]

Over 2.65 billion units of PCs, tablets and mobile phones, worth USD 228 billion, are expected to be shipped globally by 2017, research firm Gartner said. Worldwide combined shipments of devices (PCs, tablets, ultramobiles and mobile phones) are expected to grow from 2.41 billion units last year to 2.48 billion units in 2015, an increase of 2.8 per cent, Gartner said in a statement.

This is expected to rise further to 2.65 billion units by 2017, it added. In value terms, the market is expected to grow from USD 244 billion last year to USD 226 billion in 2015 and further to USD 228 billion by 2017, Gartner said. Gartner said the global PC market is likely to see shipment of 306 million units in 2015, a decline 2.4 per cent over 2014.

'USD 228 bn worth PCs, phones to be shipped globally by 2017'

By 2017, it is forecast to cross 327 million units. "The fall in PC purchases is primarily due to expected price increases by vendors in Europe and other regions, which is forced by local currency depreciation against the dollar," Gartner Research Director Ranjit Atwal said.

The mobile phone market, on the other hand, is the largest and most profitable segment of the global device market. It is expected to total 1.9 billion units and grow 3.5 per cent in 2015 and further to 2.05 billion by 2017. "Consumers will continue to prioritise spending on phones over PCs and tablets in 2015," Gartner Research Director Roberta Cozza said. The presence of cheaper smartphones will continue to appeal to consumers and counter the need to increase prices.

Gartner said while mobile phone pricing has been increasing over the last few years, driven by a rising premium-phone average selling price, it will now remain flat or slightly down as the smartphone market reaches saturation over the next few years.

Worldwide ultramobile shipment, which includes tablets and clamshells, is on pace to total 237 million units in 2015 (up 4.3 per cent over 2014) and over 276 million units by 2017. "Following rapid growth, the current mature consumer installed base for tablets is comparable to that of notebooks. Not only is the tablet segment nearing saturation in mature markets, but the influx of hybrids and phablets will compete directly with tablets in emerging markets," Cozza said.

Source: PTI