Research firm iSuppli said on Wednesday that though it predicts a general drop in 2009 sales of phones, owing to the recession-hit slump in demand for electronic gadgets, it forecasts unit sales of smartphones to register a rise of over 11 percent.

Specifically speaking, iSuppli expects sales of smartphones with highly developed computer-like operating systems and applications – like the Apple iPhone and the RIM BlackBerry - to rise between 6 percent and 11.1 percent.

The research firm said that while mobile sales overall might fall from the 2008 figures of 1.26 billion units to 1.11 billion units; the unit sales of smartphones would soar from 173.6 million to 192.8 million. Furthermore, the total share of smartphones in the handset market will increase from 13.8 percent to 17.4 percent.

Terming the situation ‘optimistic’, iSuppli related the projected increase in smartphone sales to wireless network operators slashing data service fees for providing applications like Web browsing and e-mail, along with the “aggressive” subvention to cut smart phone costs.

It is no wonder then that some of the computer biggies, including Acer, have recently announced their decisions to make inroads into the smartphone market!

Tina Teng, iSuppli’s senior wireless communications analyst, said: “With 3G networks having become prevalent all over the world, smartphones are no longer just for corporate users - they are for consumers, too.”