Qualcomm expects five billion smartphones to be sold between 2012 and 2016

Mobile and tablet processor maker Qualcomm, best known for its ARM-based Snapdragon chips, has revealed it estimates around five billion smartphones will be sold between 2012 and 2016.

Pocket Lint reports the prediction was made during a presentation at the company’s annual general meeting.

According to IDC, 181.1 million smartphones were sold worldwide during the third quarter of 2012, working out to an annualised rate of 724.4 million.

Meanwhile, Canalys estimates around 419 million mobile phones were sold worldwide during the second quarter of 2012, working out to 1.676 billion mobiles sold worldwide per year.

The company also anticipates combined laptop and tablet sales of 650 million per year by 2016.