In a new report on PDAs, eTForecasts found that sales of traditional PDAs slowed or declined in the last two years, a fact that is well known to the PDA community, which has suffered from a noticeable dip in sales over the last year.

According to eTForecasts, the soft economy was a major factor, but the growth of PDA-Phones or Smartphones is also a contributing factor. When Smartphones are included in PDA sales, the worldwide PDA demand did not decline in 2002, but saw a small sales increase.

The company said most of the Smartphone demand has come in Europe and Smartphone sales is likely to top 50% of total PDAs in 2003 where it only took up 39% last year and 20% a year before that in Europe. Strong growth is also expected in Asia and the USA. (see table bellow)

The Symbian software platform is prevalent in Europe and leads the PDA-Phone/Smartphone segment. eTForecasts said the cell phone manufacturers have the most extensive distribution channel network for Smartphones and this will favor Symbian-based devices in most regions.

"The demand for PDA functionality has not decreased, but the type of mobile device the customer wants is changing", says Dr. Egil Juliussen, the author of the report. " This trend lowered traditional PDA sales in several regional markets in 2002, but Smartphones sales made up for the decline."

As the PC/PDA manufacturers get on the Smartphone bandwagon, the company said Symbian will see stronger competition. However, for Pocket PC or Palm devices to challenge Symbian, some of the leading cell phone manufacturers or the cell phone operators must embrace the Pocket PC or Palm platforms.

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                        2001    2002    2003    2004    2006    2008
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Worldwide:
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PDA Sales (#K)         15,336  15,714  18,946  23,854  38,320  58,509
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PDA-Phone/Smartphone 
 Portion (%)             4.3    10.8    20.6    29.3    39.3    45.0
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USA:
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PDA Sales (#K)          6,560   6,410   6,940   8,090  11,730  17,170
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PDA-Phone/Smartphone 
 Portion (%)             0.5     3.0     8.5    16.0    27.5    35.0
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W. Europe:
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PDA Sales (#K)          2,650   2,870   3,910   5,040   7,890  11,400
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PDA-Phone/Smartphone 
 Portion (%)            20.0    39.0    53.0    59.0    62.0    63.0
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