News

4 May 2010

 

Smartphone shipments jump 50% to 54m in Q1/2010

Global smartphone shipments reached 54 million units in first-quarter 2010, up a huge 50% from 36 million a year ago and accounting for 18% of total handset shipments, according to market research firm Strategy Analytics in its ‘Q1 2010 Global Smartphone Market Share Update’ report. This was the strongest period of growth for almost three years as the high-value smartphone market continues to lead the handset industry out of recession.

“Sales are being driven by healthy operator subsidies, vigorous competition between vendors and a growing tide of lower-cost models using operating software like Symbian and Android,” says Strategy Analytics’ director Tom Kang.

“The global smartphone market will head in two broad directions this year,” comments Strategy Analytics’ director Neil Mawston. “Some smartphone vendors, such as Nokia, will chase growing mid-tier volumes in emerging markets such as China and India. Other brands, such as Motorola, will focus on mature markets like the US and explore a new wave of services beyond Internet browsing and e-mail, such as high-quality video and navigation.”

In Q1/2010, Nokia shipped a record 21.5 million smartphones worldwide, rising an above-average 57% from 13.7 million units a year earlier. China, South America and Africa Middle East were regional hotspots for Nokia, while North America remains a problem-child and one that is crimping profits and still badly needs attention, comments Strategy Analytics.

RIM shipped 10.6 million smartphones, comfortably beating Apple’s record 8.8 million units during the quarter. RIM has become the largest mobile device vendor of North American origin, ahead of rivals Apple and Motorola. However, its annual growth rate slowed to just 45% in Q1/2010 and its new Blackberry OS 6.0 upgrade (due in Q3) is badly needed.

(millions of units)			2008			Q1/09			2009			Q1/10
Nokia			60.5			13.7			67.8			21.5
RIM			23.5			7.3			34.5			10.6
Apple			13.7			3.8			25.1			8.8
Others			53.4			11.1			47.3			12.8
Total			151.1			35.9			174.7			53.7
Market share %			2008			Q1/09			2009			Q1/10
Nokia			40.0%			38.2%			38.8%			40.0%
RIM			15.5%			20.3%			19.7%			19.7%
Apple			9.1%			10.6%			14.4%			16.4%
Others			35.4%			30.9%			27.1%			23.8%
Total			100%			100%			100%			100.0%
Growth year-on-year			23.1%			7.5%			15.6%			49.6%

Table: Smartphone shipments and market share (top 3 vendors).

See related item:

Q1 handset shipments of 303 million show 3G eclipsing 2G

Search: Smartphone shipments

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