Emerging Markets Expected to Drive Device Sales LONDON - Consumers in developing countries like Brazil and China are set to continue as the main engine for sales growth for devices like smartphones and tablets in 2014, according to a research report published Tuesday. In total, worldwide shipments of computers, tablets and smartphones are estimated to rise 7.6 percent this year, to 2.5 billion units, according to the figures from Gartner, the technology research company. Consumers in developing economies, particularly Asian countries like India and Indonesia, are projected to buy these devices at significantly higher rates than in the United States and Western Europe, Gartner estimates. Ranjit Atwal, research director in Gartner's global forecasting team, said the continuing rise of a middle class in these emerging economies would be the main driver for growth, as those middle-class consumers upgraded their cellphones and bought new tablets. That could provide an opportunity for low-cost manufacturers of devices that use Google's Android operating systems. Companies like Huawei and ZTE have flooded the market with cheap smartphones in the hope of persuading local consumers to purchase more advanced cellphones and other mobile devices. "In mature markets, we are reaching a saturation point," Mr. Atwal said. In emerging economies, smartphone adoption is still relatively low. People want to upgrade their handsets. Over the last three years, China has become the world's largest smartphone market. About 40 percent of sales in the first nine months of 2013 were in Asia, according to the research firm Canalys. But now other Asian countries are also on track to become important for hardware makers. In particular, high-growth countries in the Asia-Pacific region like Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia are expected to report shipments of 529 million computers, tablets and smartphones this year, 20 percent more than 2013, according to Gartner's statistics. "There are 200 million middle-class customers in India alone," Mr. Atwal said. That's a considerable opportunity. Despite the increased shipments of devices to emerging markets, analysts say many smartphone and tablet makers may still struggle to turn a profit. Cutthroat competition between hardware makers has led to a continual fall in prices for devices. That has left many companies unable to benefit financially from consumers" almost insatiable demand for the latest tech gadgets. Nokia, for example, is expected to complete the sale of its handset division to Microsoft for $7.2 billion this quarter after losing its dominant market share in the smartphone industry to rivals like Apple. And despite Android's commanding position as the world's most-used operating system for high-end phones, few manufacturers that rely on the software generate a profit from their handsets, according to research from Canaccord Genuity. To compete against the global leaders like Samsung, which held a 32 percent market share for smartphones in the third quarter, analysts say rival phone makers must prove that their devices can offer a unique experience to consumers. "Users want to look beyond Apple and Samsung," said Mr. Atwal of Gartner. Over the next two years, they will be open to trying something different.