The concept behind the Smart Phone, to combine computer technology with a telephone, has revolutionised the way we communicate, work and play. The global Smart Phone market rose by 43% between 2011 and 2012.
2012 FULL YEAR SMARTPHONE SALES STATISTICS
| Rank | Brand | 2012 units | Share | 2011 units | Share | 2010 units | Share |
| 1 (2) | Samsung | 215.0 M | 30.9% | 90.9 M | 18.7% | 24.0 M | 8.0% |
| 2 (1) | Apple | 135.8 M | 19.5% | 93.1 M | 19.1% | 47.5 M | 15.9% |
| 3 (8) | Huawei | 55.2 M | 7.9% | 20.0 M | 4.1% | 5.0 M | 1.5% |
| 4 (3) | Nokia | 35.0 M | 5.0% | 77.3 M | 15.9% | 100.3 M | 33.7% |
Source: Tomi Ahonen Almanac 2013
Smart Phones have essentially rolled the majority of information and organisation applications into one. You can now check your email, read the news, take a photo, listen to music, look up restaurant reviews and plenty more, all on the one pocket sized device.
RMIT Journalism student Alexandra Campbell believes smart phones have significantly improved the University experience. “As far as the media industry goes, we’re expected to be connected at all times. Twitter and Facebook are no longer just social networks to us; they keep us in touch with what’s happening around the world. Radio and news apps are also imperative tools, I would really struggle without my iPhone,” she said.
Strathcona Baptist Girls Grammar School teacher Julie Leggo, prioritises sustainability and the environment as a vital part of the high school curriculum. Ms Leggo finds the manufacturing of most Smart Phones particularly concerning and aims to educate her students on where their products come from. “It’s fascinating to me how little people know about the making of these devices. It’s no secret that the minerals required for their manufacturing come from places like the Democratic Republic of Congo where militia groups fight pitilessly over the control of depleting mines. The cost of your smart phone is far greater than the barcode at Apple indicates,” Ms Leggo said.
Apple made a list of 2012’s most popular apps which included Skype, YouTube, angry birds, Netflix, Shazam, Twitter and Facebook. Surprisingly most of these apps are for social or entertainment purposes only, suggesting that most people are using their smart phones as toys rather than work aids.
Despite the increasing conflict over mineral extraction for Smart Phone production or the decreasing level of work productivity as a result of the ‘app’ endemic, if 2012’s statistics are anything to go by, it appears Smart Phones are well and truly here to stay.
