Smartphones make up 58 per cent of operators’ device ranges, compared with just 19 per cent for feature phones, according to a new study by Wireless Intelligence.
According to its analysis of more than 50 operators in developed markets that have already launched 4G services, the average portfolio consists of 37 smartphones, 14 basic/feature phones, seven tablets, four dongles and three hotspots.
In terms of connectivity, 3G was present in 70 per cent of all devices, with an additional 15 per cent also including 4G. Only 15 per cent are now 2G-only.
Regarding smartphones specifically,14 per cent currently available include 4G connectivity, with an additional 85 per cent having 3G. Just 1 per cent of smartphones are still 2G-only.
According to the report, the landscape has been shaped by factors including the price erosion of HSPA handsets, leading to mass-market penetration of such devices; higher subsidies for 4G LTE handsets to drive upgrades and manage churn; rapid price erosion in 4G devices; a rapid user migration to smartphones, and the proliferation of data devices alongside the wider availability of convergent offers and shared data plans.
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