According to CEA, the guys behind the annual CES show, consumer demand for entertainment and data services will continue to drive smartphone sales. CEA released a new study today called Wireless Phone Data and Entertainment Services, which found that 40% of American adults plan to purchase a new wireless handset in 2008.

The study shows that only 11% of adult owners say they own a smartphone, but CEA says that number will grow in the future. "While smartphones were once mostly for business use, they are becoming mainstream, as new wireless services like navigation and Internet access are included in more handsets," said Steve Koenig, CEA's Senior Manager of Industry Analysis. "These devices will slowly but surely supplant standard handsets."

CEA says with the new FCC 700MHz auction consumers have more data services to look forward to, which will help bolster smartphone sales. In 2007 CEA estimates that 15% of the total handset volume was smartphones.

Via CEA