Report: Smartphones outshipping PCs

According to a new report, late last year, the total number of smartphones shipped has eclipsed the number of PCs shipped. Here’s CNN Money’s David Goldman:

Manufacturers shipped 100.9 million smartphones to stores around the globe in the final three months of 2010, compared to 92.1 million personal computers, according to a study released this week by IDC.

Over the past two years, smartphone shipments have tripled, while PC shipments grew a comparatively measly 45%.

Of course, there are several factors at play here. Phones cost less, and are usually upgraded more frequently than PCs. A family may have several smartphones, but just one PC. Finally, most people own or have access to a PC, while only 17% of people have smartphones, according to Forrester Research.

Regardless of these factors, lots of analysists believe that mobile products like phones and tablets will become more and more mainstream in the future.

I think the future is here.

Article and Chart Via CNN Money

Stephen Hackett, formerly a Lead Mac Genius at Apple, now spends his days running the IT department of a large non-profit in Memphis, TN. He writes about Apple, design and journalism at forkbombr.net. Like all twenty-somethings, you can find him… Full Bio