Smartphone growth expected to slow again in 2013

Smartphone growth expected to slow again in 2013:
Smartphones are where the money is at in the mobile industry right now, but growth is expected to decline again next year after having slowed in 2012. According to research from Digitimes, which can be more plugged in than some research firms thanks to its close ties with device manufacturers and parts suppliers, global smartphone shipments are expected to grow 30% to 865 million units in 2013. The site lists “relationships between platform providers and hardware makers, support from telecom carriers for new models, and key developments or decisions by some vendors” as factors contributing to the slowed growth. Approximately 665 million smartphones will have shipped in 2012 according to Digitimes’ estimates, representing annual growth of close to 40%. According to earlier figures from Digitimes’ research arm, smartphone shipments grew more than 60% annually in both 2010 and 2011.