We all know smartphones are popular, but more popular than computers? Apparently so. According to a report by the International Data Corporation, smartphones surpassed global computer shipments in the final quarter of 2010.

The difference between the two different devices isn’t huge. According to IDC, 100 million smartphones were shipped in the fourth quarter of 2010, compared to just 92 million computers.  The Top 5 smartphone manufacturers for the quarter were Nokia, Apple, RIM, Samsung, and HTC; with HP, Dell, Acer, Lenovo, and Toshiba taking top honors in the PC category.

While the difference in numbers between the two devices isn’t huge, it is the first time that smartphones have surpassed computers in the marketplace.  More and more manufactureres are now making smartphones, and many are offering them at lower prices that before, making them accessible to people who might not have previously been able to afford them.

Smartphones surpassing PCs also indicates that many people are using their smartphone as a PC replacement. Someone who only wants to send the occasional email or check sports scores on the web could easily get by with using just a smartphone and not owning a traditional computer.

IDC expects the gap to grow larger in 2011. “The high-end of the market has been important to help grow the smartphone market in recent years,” said Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst with IDC’s Mobile Phone Technology and Trends team. “IDC expects vendors to provide more mid-range and low-end smartphones at lower prices to reach the mass market. In the same manner, even high-end devices will become available at lower prices. This will result in greater competition and more selection for users.”

Phones such as the upcoming Motorola Atrix put the traditional processing power of a computer into a phone. That phone, in particular, is designed to be used as a computer replacement, and has an optical laptop accessory as well as one to use the phone  Do you see smartphones ultimately becoming

Leave A Comment

Tags computer market, computers, Phones, smartphones