The average selling price of smartphones worldwide dropped below $300 for the first time, according to data released Monday by Strategy Analytics.

The average price for a smartphone in the first quarter of this year marked $299, down from $342 and $333 in the same quarter in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

Aside from the fourth quarters of 2011 and 2012, the average price has been on a downward trend since early 2011.

The data suggested that increasing numbers of smartphone users in China, India, Brazil and Russia and the provision of cheaper devices were the main reasons for the drop.

Next year, smartphone sales in China, India, Brazil and Russia combined will reach approximately 660 million, possibly surpassing sales in developed countries, a separate study suggested.

By Kwon Bum-joon (bjkwon@heraldcorp.com)