IDC said the mobile connected devices market in the countries within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) suffered its worst ever quarter-on-quarter decline in the second quarter of 2015. Latest data shows that the market suffered an 8 per cent decline in shipments during the quarter to total just over 8 million units. The GCC mobile connected devices market comprises shipments of smartphones, tablets, and portable PCs to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait. However, the final quarter of the year is also usually a strong period for mobile connected devices. As such, IDC expects the GCC mobile connected devices market to grow 6 per cent in the third quarter of 2015 and another 4 per cent in the fourth quarter. Looking at the year as a whole, IDC forecasts the GCC mobile connected devices market to grow 6 per cent year on year to total 34 million units, followed by further growth of 10 per cent in 2016. Release
