Smartphones are the next big thing in electronics. While the consumer electronic market is collapsing the smartphone sales are rising. According to the latest research from NPD Group for US market, smartphone sales doubled to 23 percent in 2008 when compare to previous year. iPhone was the driving force behind growth in US market. This growth will continue in 2009 also as other carriers are releasing phone to compete with iPhone. Verizon launched BlackBerry Storm in November 2008, T-Mobile launched G1 in October 2008 and Sprint is planning to launch Palm Pre to compete with the iPhone.

Growth in smartphone sales is not limited to US only, iSuppli estimated that smartphone market would double by 2012 around the world. Even though the growth in mobile phone market will fall in 2009, iSuppli estimates an 11.1 percent increase in smartphone sales during 2009. In-Stat another research firm also believes that global smartphone growth will be strong in 2009 and smartphones will double their share by 2013.

The biggest positive coming out of growth in smartphone market is mini-ecosystem of applications developing for various smartphones, which will provide economic growth and help drive the cellphone market.