Strategy Analytics: Global Smartphone Users Reach 2 Billion in 2014

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Feb 25, 2015, 07:50 ET

BOSTON, Feb. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, global smartphone users reached 2 billion for the first time ever in 2014. One in three of the world's population now owns a smartphone.

Linda Sui, Director at Strategy Analytics, said, "Global smartphone users grew 37 percent from 1.5 billion in 2013 to reach 2.1 billion users in 2014. This is the first time worldwide smartphone users have surpassed the two-billion level. We forecast global smartphone users to increase a further 22 percent to 2.5 billion in 2015. An impressive 35 percent of the world's 7.2 billion population will own a smartphone by the end of 2015, up from 29 percent in 2014."

Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics, added, "Well over 2 billion people worldwide own a smartphone today. The smartphone has become one of the most widespread electronic devices of all time. The smartphone is ubiquitous and it is rapidly evolving to become a central hub for controlling consumers' daily lives in the home, car and office of the future."

Exhibit 1: Global Smartphone Users in 2013 to 2015 ^[1]

Global Smartphone Users (Billions of Units)	2013	2014	2015
Total Smartphone Users	1.5	2.1	2.5
Total Population	7.0	7.1	7.2
Total Smartphone Users as % of Total Population	22%	29%	35%

Source: Strategy Analytics

^[1] Numbers are rounded. A "user" is defined as a person who owns and uses one or more active smartphones.

The full report, Global Smartphone User Penetration Forecast by 88 Countries, is published by the Strategy Analytics Wireless Smartphone Strategies (WSS) service, details of which can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/ke6b2dk.

About Strategy Analytics:
Strategy Analytics is a global, independent research and consulting firm. The company is headquartered in Boston, USA, with offices in the UK, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, India and China. Visit www.strategyanalytics.com for more information.