For the mobile Internet, tomorrow belongs to Asia

SINGAPORE: After five years of explosive growth sales of high-end smartphones have hit a plateau and the US$2tril (RM6tril) industry - telecom carriers, handset makers and content providers - is buckling up for a bumpier ride as growth shifts to emerging markets, primarily in Asia. 

While carrier subsidies have helped drive sales of high-end devices in mature markets, the next growth chapter will be in emerging markets where cost-conscious users demand cheaper gadgets and cheaper access to cheaper services.