World going mobile, as smartphone sales to exceed PCs

February 8, 2014

In 2014, the number of smartphones in use globally is anticipated to exceed the number of PCs.

The annual sales of smartphones exceeded desktop computers in 2013. PCs in use around the globe number more than 1.5 billion, and they are generally used for a longer span than smartphones, (which are more frequently replaced, as new models benefit from constant upgrades in memory, capacity and battery performance).

Tablets, while still a distant third in terms of numbers in use, are expected to start outselling PCs next year.

In 2015, smartphone worldwide sales are projected to reach 776 million units.

Related: Mobile video consumption data

While the PC installed base is estimated using 5-year trailing PC sales, the smartphone and tablet installed base uses 2-year trailing sales.

However, anecdotal evidence may indicate a more conservative rate should apply to PCs, as many home and small business computers remain in use beyond 5 years. PC sales are on a global decline as this Statista chart illustrates.

Nonetheless, the increased sales, traffic and time on smartphones and tablets merely reflects a global trend in ever-accelerating volume of mobile computing. The increasingly frequent use of handheld devices for timeshifting, second screening, social networking, pre-purchase research, m.commerce and mobile video are all changing patterns of user behaviour.

Related: Mobile traffic growing at a faster rate than desktops.

What does this mean for businesses?

For all enterprise, large and small, the trend in mobile means a refocusing of marketing and operations onto handheld devices. Fundamentally that means ensuring your brand is presented effectively online, in video and in social media.

• To avoid miniaturisation of a standard website, and adapt to the size and orientation of handheld device screens, the online presence must be built with responsive design
• To maximise visual impact and propel your brand forward, videos (of between 1’00” and 2’00” duration) are the most effective. Search engine optimisation (SEO) is also best served with video, as Google ranking is considerably higher for content presented in video, than the identical content in text and images only
• To maximise community engagement, client advocacy and prospect opportunities and SEO, social media platforms must be created and curated. If your business does not have the in-house resources to moderate, generate and curate content, an external supplier should be engaged to train or supply this service for your brand

Related: Social Media for business

Digital Tsunami can assist in developing an eStrategy for your brand. We listen carefully to you requirements and objectives, propose appropriate solutions which will achieve your goals, and implement online and offline collaterals to effectively promote your brand.

In Nov 2013, Statista reported that over a six year period, the rate of increase of global IP traffic (in petabytes of data per month) for smartphones (146%), had exceeded that for PCs, over the same span of time (127%). Data source: Cisco.

Read more:

• Second Screening infographic
• Mobile consumer statistics 2012
• How Mobile is changing business
• Is that a phone in your hand or you just shopping?
• Video via Mobile. The latest statistics
• Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers; 2012 Internet Trends
• 2013. The year of Mobile, Social and Video

To maximise the impact of your brand in mobile, contact us today.

 

Sources:
Statista
Litmos (image)