PDA shipments up 32% in 2Q05
Worldwide PDA shipments are up 32% over the same period a year ago, totaling 3.6 million units, according to Gartner Inc. , a provider of research and analysis on the global information technology industry. Market is on track to reach 15 million units shipped by the end of 2005, the firm reports, surpassing the record 13.2 million units shipped in 2001.
Steady growth in the PDA market is attributable to a combination of factors, said Todd Kort, principal analyst in Gartner’s Computing Platforms Worldwide group. “Wireless PDAs are increasingly seen as an adjunct or alternative to notebook computers, while favorable exchange rates have enabled more Europeans to purchase PDAs at an attractive price,” said Kort, adding that these factors have aided in the recovery of the slumping PDA market of 2002-2004.
Gartner data indicated Research in Motion’s BlackBerry shipments grew 64.7% in 2Q, making the company the top-ranked vendor in worldwide PDA shipments. Although Dell and HP market shares continued to suffer, the report said, upgrades to their aging product lines are expected in the second half of 2005. Other highlights of the report showed Microsoft maintained its position as the leading PDA operating system supplier. Research in Motion extended its lead over Palm OS with 23.2% of the market. Palm OS PDA shipments fell 40.9% from a year ago.
Around the globe, Western European PDA market grew 94% to 1.3 million units in 2Q05. Western Europe accounted for 37% of worldwide shipments, up from 25% a year ago. PDA shipments in the U.S. totaled 1.4 million units, a 1.3% increase. The stagnant U.S. market is attributed to the continuing decline in Palm OS PDA shipments, and aging product lines among Microsoft licenses. PDA shipments in Asia/Pacific grew 24.7% with approximately 402,000 units shipped.
—Jeanine Katzel, senior editor, Control Engineering, jkatzel@reedbusiness.com
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