Global GPS shipments set to grow by 34 per cent - Strategy Analytics report

ACCORDING to new latest research published today by Boston-based Strategy Analytics, worldwide GPS smartphone shipments will grow 34 per cent from 57 million units in 2008 to 77 million units in 2009.

In what is sure to be a great fillip for innovative information services providers, GPS adoption in smartphones is being fuelled by widespread consumer acceptance of portable navigation devices in Europe and the United States - and the increasing presence of mapping applications among mobile vendors such as Nokia, Apple and Blackberry.

Besides the fact that this growth is fuelled by the growth in consumer acceptance and increased demand for location based services and applications, the greater uptake of GPS devices will also speed up convergence between traditional information services and location based apps, whilst also making mobile marketing more compelling to consumers and more measurable for advertisers.

Joanne Blight, Navigation Director at Strategy Analytics, said, "We forecast worldwide GPS smartphone shipments will grow a healthy 34 per cent from 57 million units in 2008 to 77 million units in 2009. GPS smartphones, such as the Nokia N97 and Apple iPhone, are a high-growth segment that continues to expand even during the current, tough economic times.”

Neil Mawston, Wireless Director at Strategy Analytics, added, "Two key factors are fuelling the adoption of GPS smartphones. First, there is widespread consumer acceptance of portable in-vehicle navigation devices from companies such as TomTom and Garmin in Europe and the United States. Second, mobile navigation services are improving. There is an increasing presence of mapping applications among major smartphone vendors, such as Nokia Maps, Apple Google Maps and Blackberry Maps.”

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