Smartphones vs. PCs
According to the 2015 Mobile Trend Prospect reported by Digieco, the research arm of KT, on Jan. 20, the penetration rate of smartphones (24.5 percent) in the world population overtook that of PCs (20.0 percent) for the first time last year, seven years after the first appearance of the smartphone in 2007.
The figure is a result of combining data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and international market research institute E-marketer Trend Spectrum.
The penetration rate of smartphones increased sharply during the early stage of smartphone introduction, with 5.2 percent in 2012 and 19.8 percent in 2013. On the other hand, that of PCs has actually remained still after rising to 20.0 percent in 2012 from 7.0 percent in 2004.
While the distribution rate of smartphones is expected to record 36.5 percent in 2018, that of PCs will still stay at 20.0 percent, forecasting that the difference in penetration rates between the two devices will reach 16.5 percent.
The research institute prospected that as the distribution rate of smartphones overtook that of PCs, the mobilization of Internet services will stand out more from this year.