News
Touchscreen handsets set for boom
Stuart O'Brien Apr 8 2008, 1:19pm
Shipments of touchscreen handsets will hit 178 million by 2011, according to new research.
The touch-screen craze that started with the iPhone last year is set to spread from what MultiMedia Intelligence calls a 'rounding error' to an impressive 178 million units at the start of the next decade.
As big name vendors like Nokia (N96), Sony Ericsson (Xperia), LG (Vu) and HTC (Touch Dual) bring touchy-feely devices to market, the research company says the segment is primed to explode.
Frank Dickson, chief research officer at MultiMedia Intelligence, said: "The touch screen interface is here to stay as it is a tremendous innovation in handsets.
However, it is not perfect. It is not ideal for all usage paradigms. Qwerty keyboards, sliders, and plain, old standard keyboards have their fans as well. Additionally, touch screens add considerable expense of the handset bill of materials."
