Touch-screen Nokia 'Tube' expected next week

Nokia still hasn't launched a touch-screen phone... but that's expected to change next week. Its prototype touch-screen phone (codenamed 'Tube') is rumoured to be announced in London on Thursday 2nd October. [Source: Reuters.com]

25 million Haptic-equipped mobiles worldwide

Haptic technology, which offers a gentle vibration to coincide with activities on a mobile phone, is now on more than 25 million mobile phones worldwide. The figures come from Immersion Corporation, which creates touch feedback systems for phones. Its technology is used by LG, Samsung and other manfuacturers. [Press release]

13% of mobiles are smartphones

Analysts at Canalys say that 13% of all mobile phone shipments in Q2 2008 were smartphones; a total of 12.6 million devices. Nokia led the smartphone market, followed by RIM. Canalys also estimated that 58% of smartphones shipped in the EMEA region had integrated WiFi, 13% had touch-screens and 38% had GPS. [Press release]

Touchscreen mobile sales to surge

Sales of touchscreen mobile phones are expected to increase dramatically over the next few years, according to IMS Research. They say less than 30 million mobiles with touch-sensitive screens were sold worldwide in 2007 - but over 230 million will be sold annually by 2013. Although smartphone sales will drive the availability of touchscreen phones, touch-sensitive screens will also become increasingly available on conventional consumer devices. [Press release]

35% of touch-screen mobiles in USA will be iPhone this year

The Apple iPhone will account for 35% of the touch-screen mobile phone market in the USA by the end of 2008, according to Strategy Analytics. They reckon 18.1 million touch-screen phones will be sold in the States this year, with Apple taking a 6.3 million share. [Source: BusinessWire.com]