In a First, Smartphones Outpace Regular Ones

It's a tech milestone: For the first time, more smartphones were shipped in a quarter than regular mobile phones, reports PC Magazine. Market Research firm IDC says 216.2 million of the 418.6 million mobiles shipped in the first three months of the year were of the smartphone variety. An IDC analyst says it's not complicated: "Phone users want computers in their pockets. The days where phones are used primarily to make phone calls and send text messages are quickly fading away."

Samsung again led the way with 70.7 million phones, followed by Apple (37.4 million), LG (10.3 million), and Chinese companies Huawei (9.9 million) and ZTE (9.1 million). The figures take into account phones shipped, not sold, notes Andrew Cunningham at Ars Technica, but they're still telling. "They show that companies' efforts to cater to 'emerging markets' is paying off, and we expect smartphone shipments will only continue to outpace those of dumbphones as these efforts intensify." (More smartphones stories.)