Apple Now the World’s Largest Vendor of Handsets

Strategy Analytics, a global, independent research and consulting firm, has concluded that Apple has surpassed Nokia as the world’s largest handset vendor in revenue terms during Q1 2011.

The latest research from Strategy Analytics says the iPhone maker is now the world’s largest handset vendor, smartphone vendor and tablet vendor, based on wholesale revenues for its iPhone handset division which garnered US$11.9 billion in the first quarter of 2011.

Presenting the global handset wholesale revenues in Q1 2011, Strategy Analytics outlined a substantial growth comparing  Q1 2010 and Q1 '2011 as follows:

· Global Handset Shipments (Millions of Units): 8.8 -> 18.6
· Global Handset Wholesale ASP (US$): $606 -> $638
· Global Handset Wholesale Revenues (US$ Billions): $5.3 -> $11.9

In contrast, Nokia’s figures were:

· Global Handset Shipments (Millions of Units): 107.8 -> 108.5
· Global Handset Wholesale ASP (US$): $83 -> $87
· Global Handset Wholesale Revenues (US$ Billions): $8.9 -> $9.4

Commenting on their findings, Alex Spektor, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics, said, “We estimate Apple’s wholesale revenues for its iPhone handset division stood at US$11.9 billion in the first quarter of 2011.”

“Apple overtook Nokia for the first time, which recorded a lower US$9.4 billion of wholesale handset revenues. With strong volumes and high wholesale prices, the PC vendor has successfully captured revenue leadership of the total handset market in less than four years,” Spektor said.

Neil Mawston, Director at Strategy Analytics, chimed in to say, “In revenue terms, Apple is now the world’s largest handset vendor, smartphone vendor and tablet vendor.”

Mawston outlines the key elements that got Apple where it is, citing a popular and very profitable proprietary ecosystem of hardware, software and services alike.

Still, he cautions that “rivals are chasing hard, particularly the Android vendor community, whose global installed base of smartphones we estimate will exceed that of Apple’s by the end of 2011.”

“Nokia is also investing heavily with Microsoft and Apple will be a key target for them next year,” said Mawston.