While beancounters at IDC have been predicting a dire future for the smartphone market, they did have some good news for Microsoft. According to IDC, Microsoft’s market share is set to grow, even as the smartphone industry is slowly dying.

Shipments are expected to slow to 8.3 per cent annual growth in 2017, and fall even lower in the year after. Markets like North America and Europe will drop into single digits. IDC program director Ryan Reith announced that 2014 will "be an enormous transition year" for the smartphone market as prices fall and the emphasis shifts to developing markets.

Thanks to Apple's obsession on producing high-end, high-priced devices, Google's Android will maintain its lead, with the promise of attainable prices and a wide range of options. But Windows Phone, meanwhile, will make the fastest growth among all three, with the help of Nokia and other new Windows Phone partners.