Mobile phones as the ultimate mobile device?

According to a recent BBC article titled 'Mobiles head for sales milestone':

One billion mobile phones will be sold in 2009, according to analysts.

Research firm Gartner said that the world's appetite for mobile phones had exceeded even the most optimistic expectations.

"Mobile phones could go on to be the most common consumer electronics device on the planet," said Gartner analyst Ben Wood.

By the end of 2009, some 2.6 billion mobiles will be in regular use around the world, Gartner predicts.

The findings are based on a study that looked at sales figures from 62 countries around the globe.

Survival of the fittest

It is expected that some 779 million mobile handsets will be sold by the end of this year, 50 million of which will be smartphones.

Via BBC