Research analysts at Canalys Ltd.
conclude that converged devices (smart phones and wireless handhelds) are driving the growth of the mobile device market with Symbian OS representing a total market share of 60%. Some key points:
- Overall global shipments of smart mobile devices up 82% year on year in Q1 2005;
- Handhelds down 6%, but converged devices (smart phones and wireless handhelds) up 137%;
- Nokia ships 5.4 million smart phones to give it 50% market share;
- PalmOne growth slows to 1%, lead over RIM and HP shrinks;
- Fujitsu becomes second largest provider of Symbian-based handsets.
Regarding PalmOne the reports states that handheld shipments fell 27%, but this was counterbalanced by the continued success of the company's Treo smart phones in the US. Around 40% of palmOne’s device shipments are now accounted for by Treo smart phones, up from 17% a year earlier.