Crowded smartphone market 'could drive down prices'
The flood of smartphones onto the market could see prices begin to come down, making the devices more affordable for the average consumer.
Once the preserve of business users and "anoraks", the handsets are quickly becoming available - and highly desirable - for everyday users, according to one journalist.
Writing for the Observer, Richard Wray said the proliferation of smartphones on show at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona demonstrated the popularity of the devices.
With the smartphone market one of the few sectors to have recorded continued growth in spite of the economic downturn, an increasing number of manufacturers are keen to get in on the act.
Computer firms such as Asus and Toshiba are among those looking to take advantage of the boom as the array of touchscreen features and applications continues to grow.
However, analyst at Panmure Gordon claimed that the flood of new models onto the market could spell trouble for manufacturers - and bring down prices for consumers.
"The smartphone market is looking increasingly crowded and could turn into a bloodbath until cost is driven out," he commented.
This comes after a report from Juniper Research earlier this month predicted that smartphone sales would soar by as much as 95 per cent over the next five years.
Analysts suggested that increasing consumer demand for internet access and a range of other mobile applications would become the focal point for most manufacturers looking to beat the economic downturn, meaning that touch-based displays will be "taken to their limits" in the coming years.
