14 DAY TRIAL // The smartphone shipments in the fourth quarter of the last year have reportedly increased by 30% on a yearly basis, reaching a record of 53 million units and marking the strongest growth since the third quarter of 2008, a recent report from Strategy Analytics notes. According to the research firm, this also shows that smartphones are leading the handset industry on its way out of recession.
“Global smartphone shipments reached a record 53 million units during Q4 2009, rising 30 percent from 41 million in Q4 2008. This was the strongest period of growth since Q3 2008 and smartphones are leading the handset industry out of recession. Sales are being driven by stronger consumer demand and a stream of attractive new 3G models tempting buyers into retail stores,” Tom Kang, senior analyst at Strategy Analytics, said.
According to the report, Nokia managed to sell a number of 20.8 million smartphones all around the world in the fourth quarter of the last year, while also marking an impressive growth of 38 percent when compared to the same quarter a year before. It seems that Nokia marked its strongest smartphone quarter since mid-2008, which also translated in revenue and profit boost.
Other findings of the Q4 2009 Global Smartphone Market Share Update report from Strategy Analytics also include: - RIM shipped a record 10.7 million smartphones worldwide in Q4 2009, remaining comfortably ahead of Apple’s 8.7 million units during the quarter. RIM continues to expand its international footprint beyond the core territory of North America deeper into Western Europe and parts of Asia; - Global smartphone shipments reached an all-time high of 173.8 million units in 2009, growing 15 percent from 151.1 million during 2008.
While Nokia and RIM are the first and second smartphone vendors all around the world, Apple comes in on the third position with 8.7 million units sold in Q4 2009, and 25.1 million units sold during the entire year. When it comes to the market share each of these companies accounts for, Nokia is first with 39.2% in Q4 and 39.0% for the entire year 2009, RIM is placed second with 20.2% and 19.8% for Q4 and full year 2009, respectively, and Apple goes on the third with 16.4% and 14.4%, for the last quarter and full year 2009, respectively.
“The smartphone market will become ultra competitive in 2010. Samsung and LG have ambitious plans to grow volumes and expand their app stores, while emerging players like Dell and Huawei are strengthening their device portfolios and courting major operators. The smartphone wars will be good news for consumers, but the fierce competition will inevitably place downward pressure on vendors’ pricing and margins,” Neil Mawston, director at Strategy Analytics, commented.