Sales of smartphones based on newly emerging platforms, including Android One, Firefox OS and Tizen, are expected to increase significantly in 2015, buoyed by replacement demand from first-time smartphone buyers, according to industry watchers.

The ratio of feature phones to total global handset shipments already dropped to 34% in the third quarter of 2014 and is expected to dip to as low as 10% in 2018, according to Gartner.

The narrowing price gap between smartphones and feature phones is the main reason for feature phone subscribers to switch to smartphones, said the watchers.

Additionally, Microsoft Mobile's decision to phasing out from the feature phone sector has also encouraged handset makers to roll out more Android One-, Firefox- and Tizen-based models, priced from US$50-100, to cash in on the emerging trend, added the watchers.

Mozilla, the operator of Firefox OS, has teamed up with China-based handset makers including TCL, ZTE, Huawei as well as chipset vendor Spreadtrum Communications to form a supply chain for Firefox smartphones.

In cooperation with regional telecom operators, the Firefox supply chain has launched 14 models in 30 markets. Some Firefox models available in the Philippines and India are even priced below US$30.

Google has been promoting standardized Android One smartphones and has teamed up Micromax, Karbonn an Spice to promote Android One smartphones in India.

However, Google also plans to tie up with chipset vendors Qualcomm and MediaTek and handset vendors HTC, Asustek Computer, Acer and Lenovo to develop next generation Android One phones, which are expected to come in the first half of 2015, indicated the market observers.

Meanwhile, Samsung is expected to launch its first Tizen-based smartphone, the Z1, in early 2015. The Z1 is expected to come with a 4-inch display, 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and priced below US$100, the sources noted.