Smartphone Prices Will Keep Falling: IDC

Google's Android is expected to continue its global domination over Apple's iOS in the coming years, but more affordable phones in emerging markets like India are expected to grow rapidly in demand, a new report from industry data company IDC shows. By 2018, Android's market share is expected to fall to 80%. While that's down from 82.3% currently, Apple's share is also expected to decline to 12.8% from 13.8% currently. The market leaders' declining shares come as lower-priced phones continue to be favored among consumers. IDC predicts that average selling prices will drop to $241 by 2018 from $297 currently in developed markets. It will be even more drastic in emerging markets, where IDC predicts prices will fall to $102 by 2018 from $135 currently. IDC senior research manager Melissa Chau said premium phones aren't going anywhere, but the industry is increasingly producing better specs in more affordable smartphones. In total, worldwide shipments are expected to approach 1.9 billion by 2018 from an expected 1.3 billion units in 2014.