Smartphone Sales To Slow: IDCBuying patterns in China – which makes up a little
more than a quarter of the world’s smartphone market – have changed when it
comes to smartphones, IDC says.

It notes: “IDC expects to see a noticeable slowdown in smartphone
shipments in 2015 as China joins North America and Western Europe in a more
mature growth pattern.”

However, IDC added that – as phone prices drop – the market should remain a
growth market for years to come.

It predicts that Google’s Android system – which is expected to finish the year
running 81.1 percent of all smartphones shipped worldwide – will continue to
take top OS spot at least until 2019.

Apple’s iOS, due to higher prices, will continue to come in second, with an
estimated 15.6 percent.

“IDC’s view that Microsoft/Windows Phone will remain a marginal challenger
at best has not changed,” the researcher adds.