Global market researcher Strategy Analytics said the number of global smartphone users would reach 2.5 billion in 2015.

The number amounts to 35 percent of the global population, and the company pointed to the rise of low-end smartphones as the reason for the possible surge of the users.

As of 2012, the number of smartphone holders topped the 1 billion mark.

Strategy Analytics added that the Asia-Pacific region would have the most smartphone users in 2015.

By Ro Ji-woong (jamesro@heraldcorp.com)