Report: Global Smartphone Sales to Exceed 800 Million Units in 2015

May 17, 2011 Rodney Bosch

Research firm Parks Associates released a new report that details the exploding market for smartphones, adding credence to the belief that installing security contractors will need to add mobile applications to their portfolios or eventually risk losing significant market share to competitors that do.

Parks Associates is forecasting more than two billion people worldwide will own at least one smartphone in 2015, a whopping 175-percent increase from 2010. Here’s another way to illustrate the torrid growth: globally, smartphone shipments jumped 70 percent in 2010 with roughly 500 million users, and unit sales are projected to exceed 800 million in 2015. In the U.S., smartphone penetration increased 9 percent between the third quarter in 2009 and the same period in 2010, according to the Dallas-based firm.

While there was no specific reference to electronic security applications in the firm’s press release, not heeding to consumers’ insatiable appetite and expectations for mobile functionality verges on gross inattentiveness or even outright denial.

“Smartphones represent a new lifestyle,” Harry Wang, director, mobile research, Parks Associates, said in a press statement. “Consumer desire for that lifestyle has accelerated the traditional mobile phone replacement cycle and will drive near-term hyper growth of the smartphone market.”

The second edition of the firm’s report, “Smartphone: King of Convergence,” states that “hardware and software innovations, such as dual-facing camera-supported video chat and app-enabled content consumption, will continue to drive this market through the down economy.”

Mobile security and home control applications are a natural extension to tap into consumers’ increasing desire for real-time data, interactive services, streaming video and more. To be sure, you don’t need to look hard these days to find companies that are locked and loaded to compete in the mobile security and home control services marketplace.

To name but a few programs: ADT Pulse is an interactive solution which integrates home controls and security; Vector Security’s MyVectorSecurity interactive services are powered by Alarm.com’s technology platform; ADS Security’s recently launched “Aniware” solution is based on Honeywell’s Total Connect platform. And, yes, the telcos are taking another run at the security channel. Last July, Comcast began rolling out its Internet-connected Xfinity Home Security solution in the greater Houston area. Then in January at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Verizon unveiled its home automation and security system using Fios, the company’s fiber-optic communications network.

If that’s not motivation enough to adopt an interactive services platform, then consider all that potential recurring revenue flowing into a competitors’ coffers.

Rodney Bosch | Managing Editor

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About the Author

Rodney Bosch, Senior Editor

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Although Bosch’s name is quite familiar to those in the security industry, his previous experience has been in daily newspaper journalism. Prior to joining SECURITY SALES & INTEGRATION in 2006, he spent 15 years with the Los Angeles Times, where he performed a wide assortment of editorial responsibilities, including feature and metro department assignments as well as content producing for latimes.com. Bosch is a graduate of California State University, Fresno with a degree in Mass Communication & Journalism. In 2007, he successfully completed the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association’s National Training School coursework to become a Certified Level I Alarm Technician.