Converged devices set to top Christmas wishlists?

Nationwide sales of converged devices are at an all time high, according to research by industry analyst IDC.

Newly released figures for the third quarter of 2004 show converged devices taking a stronghold on the Australian smart handhelds market, grabbing 66.3 percent of the total share.

Analysts said the spurt had been propelled by an increase in data-centric device shipments -- up 58 percent from last quarter -- and voice-centric devices up 48 percent. Pen-based or traditional PDAs sales declined by 13 percent from the second quarter this year.

Mercie Clement, associate analyst at IDC, attributed the boom in converged devices to the flurry of marketing promotions tempting consumers, including bundling with everything from handset accessories and printers to photo printing promotions. The price tag remained the ultimate incentive, she said.

"The (most) compelling driver is still pricing - affordability and predictability in relation to pricing remains the most important consideration for consumers when deciding on their next converged device purchase," Clement indicated.