GPS Smartphone shipments up 34% in 09

According to market research firm Strategy Analytics,worldwide GPS smartphone shipments will grow 34 percent from 57 million units in 2008 to 77 million units in 2009. Strategy Analytics sees GPS adoption in smartphones to be fueled by widespread consumer acceptance of portable navigation devices in Europe and the United States,and the increasing presence of mapping applications among mobile vendors such as Nokia,Apple and Blackberry.

Joanne Blight,Navigation Director at Strategy Analytics,explained that,“GPS Smartphones,such as the Nokia N97 and Apple iPhone,are a high-growth segment that continues to expand even during the current,tough economic times.”

Neil Mawston,Wireless Director at Strategy Analytics,added,“Two key factors are fueling the adoption of GPS Smartphones. First,there is widespread consumer acceptance of portable in-vehicle navigation devices from companies such as TomTom and Garmin in Europe and the United States. Second,mobile navigation services are improving. There is an increasing presence of mapping applications among major Smartphone vendors,such as Nokia Maps,Apple Google Maps and Blackberry Maps.”

Even if the strongest growth is in the adoption of GPS on Smartphones,Strategy Analytics noticed that global GPS penetration of total handset shipments reached 15% worldwide in 2008 and is expected to reach 21% by the end of 2009.

Strategy Analytics has just released a “GPS Smartphone Marketshare Tracker”,as part of their Navigation Location Opportunities (NLO) service.