Over the last two years, HD Televisions ranked as the most desired product at the holiday season; and it was no different this year. HD TVs remain at the top of respondents’ holiday wish lists, according to market researcher In-Stat. “Over all, consumer electronics continue to top holiday wish lists, which is good news for retailers and manufacturers. However, the downside is purchase intent has fallen from 2008. The 2009 consumer survey reveals that the percentage of respondents who plan to purchase a electronic device have declined within each market segment,” according to Stephanie Ethier, In-Stat Analyst. “In-Stat believes the economy is continuing to take a toll on consumer spending.”

While iPhone shipments are growing quickly, smartphones based on the Symbian operating system remain dominant and will continue to grow over the next several years, reports In-Stat. However, Symbian will wane, resulting in a drop in net Symbian-based smartphone shipments in 2014. Meanwhile, the basis of competition will change from the OS to the functionality and “user experiences” that the cell phone can provide. The advanced feature sets of smartphones continue to evolve as users demand capabilities such as touch screens, increased camera resolution and Wi-Fi connectivity options.

The personal navigation device (PND) market is showing signs of maturity as price points decline sharply, consolidation occurs, and shipment growth slows; and the most looming threat is the rapidly growing GPS enabled mobile phone market. Nevertheless, personal navigation device shipment growth will continue due to affordable price points for the mass market, automobile manufacturers' desire to offer cheap navigation options, and the potential growth in connected personal navigation devices.

The worldwide mobile phone market saw mild sequential growth in the third quarter (3Q 2009), according to IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker report. Year-on-year growth remained negative, but improved from the first half of 2009. Mobile phone shipments totaled 287.1 million units worldwide in 3Q 2009, down 6.0% from a year earlier, but up 5.6% from the second quarter.

Smartphone prices are falling as shipment volumes increase, and a new study from ABI Research finds that while in 2007 only 18% of smartphones on offer cost under $200 retail price, that percentage has already grown to 27% this year. By 2014, say the firm’s forecasts, 45% of the smartphones shipped that year will be priced below $200. These numbers highlight a rapid change in many consumers’ attitudes about smartphones, and a corresponding shift in vendors’ and mobile operators’ sales and marketing strategies. Prices will hold at a certain point, we may never see a $30 smartphone. But over time, smartphones will take a substantial part of the mainstream handset market.

New research has shown how the mobile handset market is becoming increasingly polarised between low cost handsets for emerging markets and high-end smartphones for developed regions - with the mid-range handset market being squeezed. Low-cost handsets and Smartphones will together account for almost 79% of all new mobile phones by 2014, or just over 1 billion units in all. Operators and vendors are preparing to deal with a massive influx of new users from low-income socio-economic groups in developing markets and a rising demand for complex ‘smart’ devices from affluent users in developed markets.

According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, worldwide GPS smartphone shipments will grow 34% from 57 million units in 2008 to 77 million units in 2009. GPS adoption in smartphones is being fueled by widespread consumer acceptance of portable navigation devices in Europe and the United States, and the increasing presence of mapping software applications among mobile phone vendors such as Nokia, Apple and Blackberry.

ABI Research released a new in-depth market report. It reports that Entry-level cell phones enjoy 24% annual growth through 2014. The world’s largest underserved markets for mobile communications are in developing nations and regions. Asia, Africa, Latin America all have vast potential, but formidable barriers stand in the way. Among the most immediate: the low disposable income of most of the population. Low cost and ultra-low cost cell phones are seen as part of the solution to that problem, and according to a new study from ABI Research the two categories together will see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24% over the next five years.

According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, global Android smartphone shipments will grow 900% in 2009. Healthy support from operators, vendors and developers is driving adoption. Apple iPhone OS will be the next fastest-growing smartphone operating system in 2009, with a 79% growth rate. The full report, Global Smartphone Vendor Market Share by Region: 2008, is published by the Strategy Analytics Wireless Smartphone Strategies service and is available for download.

Despite tough corporate and unemployment news making the headlines, the mobile handset-buying public did not head to the hills during the first quarter of 2009. Mobile phone vendors had shipped 258 million cell phones by the end of the quarter. Although that represents an 11% year-over-year decline, the result significantly exceeded the previous forecast of 253.5 million. “Green shoots are sprouting,” is how ABI Research vice president Jake Saunders describes the latest figures.