Is That Your Netbook Ringing?

Those neat little netbooks you see everywhere, providing fast Web and email access with sharp displays and light as heck, could be the next big smartphone device.

A study out yesterday reports the mini PCs will experience 20 percent adoption growth worldwide just this year, while their bigger brethren (the heavier, but more feature-rich laptop) will see little growth as businesses remain cautious about upgrades and new mobile fleet purchases.

According to DisplayResearch, the netbook will catch fire abroad, with more than 26 percent growth in Latin America, and 22 percent in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. While the lowest penetration rates are in North America and China, the North America market will catch up as wireless carriers continue to ramp up programs and services that drop netbook prices (hovering about $300 at this point) to smartphone prices (between no-cost and $200). Already Sprint is pushing a free netbook with a new two-year data service plan.

Table 1: Mini-Note and Notebook Shipments and Growth by Region

Source: DisplaySearch Q2’09 Quarterly Notebook PC Shipment and Forecast Report

And mind you, this growth is taking place during one of the toughest recessions experienced globally in a long time.