NEW YORK (AP) — For the first time ever, smart phones such as Apple Inc.'s iPhone are outselling personal computers, says research group IDC.
Worldwide, consumer electronics makers shipped 100.9 million smart phones in the December quarter, an 87 percent jump from a year earlier. PC shipments edged up just 3 percent to 92.1 million.
IDC analyst Ramon Llamas says the two trends aren't necessarily related. Smart phones and PCs serve different purposes, and consumers generally need both. PCs remain important for writing papers, editing photos and creating other kinds of content.
PC sales are, however, hurt by competition from tablet computers — namely Apple's iPad. Meanwhile, smart phones are getting a boost from falling prices. People also tend to replace their phones much more often than they do their computers.