Analyst says gaming phones up as console shipments slow

According to a report by analyst iSuppli, console shipments are slowing while gaming phone shipments are on the increase. There is an increase for consoles, but it’s only 0.2 percent, which is basically nothing. In comparison, phones equipped for gaming had risen 11.4 percent.

“The formidable lead enjoyed by cell phones capable of gaming will continue in the years to come with no hint of decline, and their near-universal presence gives them the potential to become a viable competitive threat to dedicated gaming platforms, primarily handheld devices,” said Pamela Tufegdzic, the report’s author.

I get where they’re coming from, but it doesn’t quite line up in my mind. Phones are phones, right? We buy them to use as phones, and the gaming is an afterthought. I don’t know that the two can be clearly compared if you look at it that way.

Another factor which the report admits is that some gamers are holding off because they know that the new stuff from console makers is coming in the near future.

Console shipments wane as gaming phones ascendant [GI.biz]