A study by researchers at TNS says consumer spending in the global mobile industry is dropping, which could leave a ‘black hole’ of $20 billion based on last year’s spending patterns. 23% of consumers around the world are currently planning to buy a new mobile phone in the next six months, down from 28% a year ago. The trend is even more pronounced in emerging markets with unsubsidised handset sales; for example, these figures have fallen from 32% of consumers in China to 24%.
However there’s still a trend towards higher-spec devices; the average global consumer is willing to pay more for their next handset than they paid for their last one, with 13% planning to buy a ‘QWERTY keyboard’-equipped or touchscreen phone. Just 5% of consumers currently own such a device. [Press release]