Uptake of smartphones will increase, says expert

It is likely that more people will start to use smartphone devices, an industry expert has predicted.

Anthony Keyworth, Director of Product Marketing for Orange UK, believes that the improvements in technology have made such mobile phones increasingly popular.

He continued: "The latest smartphones running on Android and iPhone and touchscreens make interaction much easier.

"We've seen a greater use of cameras [and] the interoperability of the applications."

Mobile phone applications have also made the market more interesting, Mr Keyworth stressed, as people are able to customise their handsets with the features they choose.

Apps have also become more flexible than they were in the past, as individuals can make them useable to themselves, he added.

The fourth quarter of 2009 saw 25% more smartphones shipped than in the previous quarter, ABI Research recently revealed.

Nokia shipped 21 million smartphones compared to its usual 15 to 16 million, while Apple had its best smartphone quarter on record.

Posted by Ruth Bradshaw