Report: Smartphones only have 19% penetration rate in Asia
November 30, 2011 by Terence LEE
While cutting-edge iOS and Android smartphones have been hogging the headlines lately, it is the feature phones that are still dominant in Asia.
Market analysis firm VisionMobile has estimated in a report that smartphones only have a 19 percent penetration rate in Asia, due to the prevalence of cost-sensitive developing markets.
The report also revealed that smartphones have a 50 percent peneration rate in developed markets but less than 20 percent in developing markets. For instance, 46 percent of Singaporean mobile phone users own smartphones, leading the region.
Things could change rapidly in some emergent markets however. Almost half of netizens who do not own smartphones in Southeast Asia have the intent of purchasing one in the near future.
Find out more about SGE’s research arm: SGE Insights, providing customized in-depth research reports to help you navigate the business of technology in Asia.
About The Author
Terence LEE - Editor
Terence writes mainly about technology trends and startups in Asia. He believes in crafting smart content: Not just a regurgitation of text, but well thought-out pieces that serve the reader using a combination of data, design, narratives, analysis, and visual impact. His articles have been published on Venturebeat, Yahoo!, Straits Times, Today, and The Online Citizen. He also co-founded NewNation.sg, a satirical news site covering Singapore affairs. Engage him on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Read other posts by Terence LEE
Share this: