China is set to overtake the US as the world’s largest mobile phone market

For the first time ever China will beat out the U.S. in mobile phone sales in 2014, according to a new report out by international research firm Strategy Analytics. It will both sell more units, at 430 million and bring in more revenue at $87 billion. Meanwhile the US is expected to sell 267 million less units and bring in $27 billion less in revenue. This is a moment that surprises no one. For years, analysts have been portending the growing Chinese opportunity. With a bigger population of 1.35 billion, compared to the United States 313 million, less smartphone saturation, and a high growth rate of the smartphone industry, China’s new telecom perch is a natural conclusion.