Analysts call for more enterprise-grade voice-centric devices, as the distinction between PDAs and smartphones becomes blurred.
Demand for smartphones and PDAs is continuing to grow rapidly, according to the latest statistics from analyst firm Gartner.
Smartphone sales have already increased by 75.5 percent in the last year to 37.4 million units, and will grow by a further 66 percent during 2006, the statistics indicated.
Sales of PDAs also continue to grow -- by 5.7 percent in the last year to 7.4 million units. Growth of 6.3 percent is predicted for 2006, as PDAs continue to be eclipsed by more voice-centric smartphones.
The distinction between PDAs and smartphones is increasingly unclear, as both product types gain new features and converge on each other.
Gartner defined a smartphone as "a large-screen, voice-centric handheld device designed to offer complete phone functions while simultaneously functioning as a personal digital assistant", and a PDA as "a handheld computer that serves as an organiser and electronic notepad".
But these definitions were less clear than they may appear, as Gartner reported that "53 percent of all PDAs shipped in the first half of 2006 featured integrated cellular capability, up from 46 percent during the same period in 2005".
"We classify them after looking at the primary purpose of the device, which is reflected in the design of the device," said Roberta Cozza, co-author of the report, on Monday in the UK.
"There are users that make their buying decisions after looking at the form factor.
"PDAs started as a consumer phenomenon, but are now being more chosen by enterprise users, and this is being driven by wireless email. With regards to smartphones... we see that the market is currently still mostly driven by consumer purchases. What we would expect to see going forward, as Microsoft gets its act together, is more enterprise-grade smartphones in 2007."
Blackberry manufacturer RIM continued to command the PDA market with 13.5 percent year-on-year growth, but Palm's share of the PDA market fell "as the company shifted its focus on sales of its Treo smartphones, which accounted for 57 percent of Palm's mobile device shipments in the first half of 2006", according to principal Gartner analyst Todd Kort.
David Meyer reported for ZDNet UK from London
