Look, who is ruling the phablet market

Phablets, a cross between a smartphone and a tablet, are gaining popularity globally as consumers opt for bigger screens to perform multimedia functions.

Here are some companies that will likely benefit or feel the impact of the fast-growing phabletmarket, which analysts expect to quadruple in value to $135 billion in about three years:

Winners
Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Lenovo Group, Asustek Computer, Google (Android software runs on most of these devices), Nuance Communications(develops Swype software for keypads, enabling easier text entry on larger screens), Nvidia (CPU), Qualcomm (CPU)
Potential winners
HTC, Huawei, Panasonic, Sony, ZTE

Riding the wave
Chinese manufacturers, and their regional partners, are building a niche for themselves. The main players are:

*Byond Tech Electronics Pvt Ltd (India)
*Karbonn Mobiles (India)
*Micromax (India)
*NXG Labs Pvt Ltd (India)
*MyPhone (Philippines)
*Cherry Mobile (Philippines)
*Oppo (China)
*Zopo Mobile (China)

On the sidelines
Microsoft(its Windows Phone software is only a handful of large-screen devices), Nokia Oyj (its largest smartphone, the Lumia 920, has a 4.5-inch screen which puts it outside most definitions of a phablet), Research In Motion, Dell.