A new report by MarketResearch.com says that there were an estimated 1.2bn computers in use worldwide at the end of 2008 with mobile PCs driving the current and future computer expansion although general PC growth is slowing. As is the case with the mobile phone industry, the bulk of the installed base (nearly 60%) can be found in mature markets. However, developing countries will increasingly account for a larger share of the global installed base and PC penetration is expected to double by 2013.

The lines have become more and more blurred between the mobile phone industry and computer industry with consumers demanding more portability and mobility, processing capability and access to data and applications anywhere and at any time.

The availability of multifunctional devices such as smartphones with cloud computing capacities and portable PCs with integrated mobile technology able to access 3G, EDGE and other mobile networks for data transfer is further contributing to the convergence between the PC and mobile markets.

This convergence will lead to a spurt in demand and help in increasing the PC adoption. The global mobile phone industry has been extremely successful in the past decade, with an average year-on-year subscriber growth of 24%. While the market has reached saturation in the more developed countries, it is still growing strongly in developing countries due to a combination of cheaper mobile phone handsets and the relative lack of fixed line infrastructure. Mobile operators therefore face two challenges: how to maintain or stimulate demand in the mature markets and secure a new client base and acquire market share in the developing markets.

This report provides an overview of the market trends, technological and regulatory changes that are shaping PC/mobile convergence. It also identifies the current issues influencing the convergence between PC and mobile technologies while describing the converged products and services available today and in the future. The report analyzes the threats and opportunities posed by the convergence as well as the industry players' strategies to exploit the convergence, identifying successful business models and showing how new battlegrounds are developing between vendors in the space.