Smart Phone Adoption Reaches A Milestone

According to eMarketer, smart phones will pass 50% penetration in at least 15 major countries by the end of 2014. The U.S. reached the tipping point in 2012. New sales of smart phones surpassed 50% in the U.S. a few years ago, but since some people use the same phone for years before upgrading, total smart phone penetration recently passed the 50% threshold. In the next 18 months, Canada, Japan, South Korea and numerous European countries will join the U.S., the U.K., Australia, Sweden and Norway. The rest of the world has some catching up to do. Worldwide, smart phones account for only about 20% of all phones, although that percentage is increasing rapidly.