Many people appear to have been adopting smartphone devices that run on Google's Android operating system (OS).
The success of these devices is said to be one of the key reasons there is so much change in the overall market at the present moment in time.
Speaking on a Guardian Tech Weekly podcast, technology editor for the news provider Charles Arthur claimed the growing success of Android is the reason older mobile phone manufacturers like Nokia and Research in Motion (RIM) - which produces the BlackBerry devices - are struggling to keep up.
He explained RIM in particular failed to recognise the smartphone market was booming in general and it had much greater competition than it necessarily realised.
It was specified this trend was on the rise before Apple's success with the launch of its iPhone range.
A particularly strong period of smartphone uptake was recorded in 2010, according to the expert, who noted the final three months of the year was the first time when the mobile handsets began to outpace the sale of desktop computers in terms of quarterly growth.
"Nokia and particularly RIM have really been hit very hard," Mr Arthur remarked, adding: "Apple sort of seeded the whole iPhone disruption back in 2007. Android came along and made it affordable and RIM really has not had an answer to that."
Professor of public engagement with technology at Cambridge University John Naughton said the interesting thing about the decline of RIM is how quickly it took place, as it had appeared to be a very secure and stable firm.
"Once upon a time, the thing that distinguished you if you were a senior executive is that you had a BlackBerry," he commented.
Indeed, global consumer insight director at Kantar Worldpanel Dominic Sunnebo recently suggested Android is outperforming BlackBerry as it is an OS brand that is not tied to a specific set of hardware.
Posted by Janine Smith