Last April, International Data Corporation (IDC) posted a press release indicating that worldwide handheld shipments decreased in the first quarter of 2006 by 22.3%, compared to 2005's first quarter. Then, a few days ago, Gartner releases findings that PDA shipments for the second quarter increased by 2.7%, again relative to the same period last year.

Obviously, these two studies are contradictory; how can a slight increase in sales follow such a steep slide? A the difference wasn't so severe would've made more sense. This means one of the reports is wrong, or at least looked at the situation in the wrong way.

Let's look at each company's definition of what a handheld or PDA is. IDC defines it as "pocket-sized gadgets capable of synchronizing with desktop or laptop computers, [without] telephony capabilities." Gartner categorizes a PDA as "as a data-centric handheld computer that weighs less than a pound and is designed for use with both hands. The devices may have telephony capabilities, but they're data-first, voice-second devices."

Gartner has a better grasp of things. In a world where the distinctions between categories are getting blurry, the proper definition comes from looking at what the device focuses on. IDC's classification doesn't seem to make sense; it seems to ignore the advances in PDA technology over the last few years. It would be like stating that worldwide sales of turbo-prop airplanes have consistently dropped over the last 50 years, instead of acknowledging that jet-turbine aircraft have become the primary technology of air travel.

To be fair, IDC was simply reporting the facts as they saw it. I am grateful for the time and effort they put in to present their findings (for free!). But I think they need to broaden their scope, instead of relegating the PDA to a definition that seems out of touch with reality.

Research Can Be "Expensive": Thank you Tech Web, for providing the gist of Gartner's study. My cheapskate self was saved from paying $95 for the document.