Experts believe that as early as 2013 over half of all mobile phones will be smartphones.

The prediction made by HIS iSuppli suggests that 54% of the worldwide mobile phone market will be smartphones rather than phones that simply make calls and send texts. Smartphones do much more than this, including surfing the net.

Originally, HIS iSuppli suggested that smartphone use would be massive by 2015, but emerging markets forced the analysts to revisit its ideas.

Wayne Lam, senior analyst at HIS, said: “This represents a major upgrade for the outlook compared to a year ago, when smartphones weren’t expected to take the lead until 2015.”

He added: “Over the past 12 months, smartphones have fallen in price and a wider variety of models have become available, spurring sales of both low-end smartphones in regions like Asia-Pacific as well as mid-range to high-end phones in the United States and Europe.”

In associated news, other research suggests that the workplace landline phone could disappear within the next five years. Smartphones are expected to replace them.

The research was compiled by Virgin Media Business, which suggests that the pace at which technological advances are now being made is making the unthinkable thinkable. Ten years ago this idea would never have been considered but, with the rapid growth in smartphone use by both individuals and businesses, many believe the landline phone is on its way out – at least in businesses.

Moreover, for those who wish to use traditional phone calling, Skype-like systems are probably the future.