... in the western markets? Tablets and smarthphones are selling well but this time there's not an iPadX or an iPhoneY.

How good/bad will the 3DS family do against cheaper games and portable experiences? Will a new Pokemon and a $129 handheld be enough to get attention and soar sales to the highs of 2011 holiday?

There's no point to neglect reality: those tablets/smarthphones games are stealing part of the handheld market, especially in the west. But Japan is showing their interest and continue developing those even increasing the numbers adding high profiles franchises, like Layton 7 which was a big hit during the DS era. Now 3DS weren't enough, so they havo to go mobile to increase the profit (?) selling to a higher installbase.

The question is, if Pokemon sales will reinvigorate the interest in the handheld market enough to make some of the companies give better support and stop with, what's looks like, a full migration of portable experiences to those devices.

I think 3DS/2DS sales (and Pokemon) will be huge. I'm not convinced this event will change the global trends on the market.

So, it will sell in huge quantities, but not enough to stop the iOS/Android trend?

I agree with AstroMaSSi, sales will be great however companies will still favour mobile devices however it could lead to even more support from Japanese devs.

ww it will pas the 40m number

it doesn't have to stop the Android/iOS trend it will just co-exist

Yes,

I think the iOS/Android trend can't be stopped. It doen't means we won't have support for this generation handhelds! And it doesn't means we won't have new handhelds from Nintendo in the future.

it will probably steamroll everything else.