Touchscreen-equipped mobile handsets sales have been building steadily since the first iPhone exploded on the cell phone scene. A new IMS Research report forecasts that growth will become even stronger. Although there were fewer than 30 million touchscreen phones sold in 2007, IMS Research predicts that number to surge to more than 230 million by 2012.

The research firm attributes this growth to success and future plans by handset makers. Reports and announcements from the top mobile phone manufacturers reveal that touchscreen devices are here to stay. In July, LG revealed that it had sold 7 million touchscreen handsets. This announcement came just five quarters after LG launched its first touchscreen device. Likewise, Samsung and Sprint released the Instinct, a full touchscreen handset. Just one week after the launch, Sprint announced that the Instinct had become the best-selling EV-DO device in the carrier’s history. Apple also reported selling 1 million of the new 3G iPhone handsets during the first weekend of sales.