Smartphones are rapidly gaining popularity in Brazil as recent price reductions have made these devices more accessible to people of all economic levels according to new research from The Nielsen Company.
Sales of smartphones were up 128% in the first half of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009, and up 17% versus the first half of 2008, the period prior to the global recession.
The volume of handsets sold also jumped 31%. Overall, smartphones make up about 10% of mobile phones owned in Brazil.
The average price of smartphones dropped 2% in the first six months of the year compared to the same period in 2009 and by 5% versus 2008.
“The drop in the average price of smartphones has put them in the hands of more Brazilians, regardless of their income level. In the small but rapidly growing smartphone universe, 15% are owned by consumers in the two lower income levels,”