World smartphone shipments in 2013 jump 38.4% to top 1 billion

NEW YORK. KAZINFORM Worldwide smartphone shipments in 2013 grew by 38.4 percent on the year prior, topping 1 billion units in a single year for the first time, a U.S. research firm said Monday.

The increase was primarily driven by low-cost devices taking hold in emerging markets, International Data Corp. said in its quarterly mobile phone report. The total of around 1,004.2 million units shipped is about double 2011's figure. Smartphones accounted for 55.1 percent of all mobile phone shipments in 2013, up from the year-before share of 41.7 percent to top the 50 percent line for the first time, Kyodo reports.