Global mobile prices to fall below USD 100 by 2015: Study

Increased competition among manufacturers and their focus on lower-middle income countries will lead to a decline in prices of approximately 70% (4.8 billion) of active mobile phones across the globe below USD 100 by 2015, according to a recent study.

"With the increasing number of subscribers coming from 'lower-middle income (LMI)' developing economies, the average size of the consumer wallet is expected to shrink.

To meet this demand, manufacturers are likely to reduce the price points for mass-market phones," said a study conducted by Knowledge process outsourcing firm Evalueserve.

Lower-middle income economies refer to the countries with the maximum population under the lower-middle income group, such as India and China.

The study further said there will be an increase in the number of features in these low-cost handsets in the next five years.