Male-targeted mobiles hogging market

Mobile phones are designed by men for men, with women and children not getting a look in, according to analyst Gartner.

Men only make up 32 per cent of the world's population -- but most mobiles are targeted at males aged 20 to 64, it says.

Gartner is urging phone manufacturers to change their products to make them more appealing to women and children, who will be an increasingly important market for mobiles in future.

Monica Basso, research VP at Gartner, said in a statement: "Mobile products will have to address gender diversity and demographics, evolving and differentiating into a range of consumer products. This trend, together with the consumerisation of IT and progressive evolution of the worker population towards younger individuals and women will force user organisations to rethink their working structures, environments and processes."

Gartner are predicting a shift in the workplace make-up, with more people working later in life in developed countries and a wider mix of gender and ethnicity among staff worldwide.