Smartphones to make up more than half of all mobile phone sales in 2013. Smartphoines will account for the first time for more than half of all mobile phones sold in the world next year and 67.4% of sales in 2016, according to consultants IHS iSuppli. The percentage of smartphones has been rising steadily for two years and in 2012, smartphones will make up 46% of sales, compared with 35% in 2011. Until recently, analysts were not expecting smartphones to account for more than half of mobile phone sales until 2015, but over the past twelve months, the fall in price of the smartphone and a larger range of models has boosted sales of both mid-range to high-end and low-end phones. The new low-end smartphones, have small memories and a lower range of apps. These low-cost smartphones will account for 47% of smartphone sales in 2016, and are very popular in emerging regions like Asia and the Pacific. Mid- and top-of-the-range smartphones are popular in the United States and Europe. The consultants forecast that some 700 million of these will be sold in 2016. (IL/transl.fl)