Changing Mobile Trends as Connected Car Net Adds Outpace Smartphone Net Adds

An interesting mobile industry data point of note happened in Q1 2016, when new connected car net adds outpaced smartphone net adds, according to data from industry analyst Chetan Sharma. The trend illustrates shifting trends in mobile, as smartphone penetration nears saturation in the US. Sharma follows the industry closely with his recurring mobile market updates, and notes that non-phone net adds actually dominate the net additions for devices connecting to mobile networks. Smartphones only made up 31% of new net adds in 1Q 2016, according to Sharma’s data. Connected cars are seen as a growth opportunity for large national carriers as they look to back fill declining growth for new smartphone adds. By some accounts, smartphone penetration in developed markets like the US is 80% or more, leaving diminishing growth prospects.