Smartphone penetration at 50% by 2017

Global smartphone penetration is expected to be around 33% in 2013 and to pass 50% by 2017, according to a meta-analysis by eMarketer, the insights provider.

In this case, eMarketer evaluated more than 2,200 data points from more than 220 research sources to develop its estimates of mobile and smartphone usage and penetration.

It calculated that six countries saw smartphone penetration rates among mobile phone users rise above 50% for the first time during 2012.

These were South Korea, Norway, Sweden, Australia, the UK and the US. South Korea led the way with a 60% penetration rate and eMarketer predicted the following five years would see a "domino effect hit regions around the world as smartphones become the norm in more places".

Canada, Finland and the Netherlands are expected to pass a 50% penetration rate among mobile users in 2013, with Japan, France, Germany, Spain and Italy following in 2014.