Emerging markets smartphone sales top growth peak in 3Q 2014

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Smartphone sales in emerging markets reached the highest growth ever in the third quarter of 2014 with sales growing almost 50 percent year-over-year, according to Gartner, a leading information technology research and advisory company.

[su_quote cite=”Gartner”]The United States of America achieved the highest growth among the matured markets with about 18.9 percent increase in the third quarter of 2014. This growth was fostered by the launch of the iPhones 6 and 6 Plus. Western Europe saw a decline of 5.2 percent, the third consecutive decline this year. [/su_quote]

“Emerging markets exhibited some of the highest growths ever recorded with Eastern Europe and the Middle East and Africa achieving the highest increase in the third quarter of 2014, with sales of smartphones growing almost 50 percent year-over-year”, the company said.

The United States of America achieved the highest growth among the matured markets with about 18.9 percent increase in the third quarter of 2014. This growth was fostered by the launch of the iPhones 6 and 6 Plus. Western Europe saw a decline of 5.2 percent, the third consecutive decline this year.

“Over the holidays we expect record sales of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, but we should not underestimate the Chinese vendors and local brands,” said Annette Zimmermann, research director at Gartner. “Chinese players will continue to look at expanding in overseas emerging markets. In Europe prepaid country markets and attractive lost-cost LTE phones will also offer key opportunities for these brands.”

Gartner expects sales of smartphones to reach 1.2 billion units in 2014.