(Telecompaper) Devices connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) are poised to overtake the number of standalone mobile phones by 2018, according to Ericsson's latest Mobility Report. A growing demand for IoT devices connected to smart meters and cars, as well as falling costs and innovative applications, will help IoT connected devices grow by a CAGR of 23 percent annually over the next five years. As a result, IoT connected devices will account for close to 16 billion of a total 28 billion connected devices by 2021, said Ericsson. The report also revealed that smartphone subscriptions are expected to overtake those for basic phones in the third quarter for the first time, before increasing from 3.4 billion to 6.3 billion by 2021. Smartphones accounted for nearly 80 percent of all mobile phones sold in the first three months of the year, said Ericsson.