Apple jumps to number three in total mobile phone shipments
Apple's record December quarter, which saw iPhone sales more than double to 37 million, has seen the company jump to number three on IDC's chart of total global phone shipments (which runs from smartphones like the iPhone, BlackBerry and those running Google Android through to "feature phones" - essentially, every other type of handset).
It's fourth quarter surge - on the back of the new iPhone 4S - also saw Apple move into third place for total sales during 2011.
But beneath the smartphone glamour, the mobile market slowed.
Handset makers shipped 427.4 million units in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to 402.8 million units in the fourth quarter of 2010. The 6.1% year-over-year growth was higher than IDC's forecast of 4.4% for the quarter, but weaker than the 9.3% growth in the third quarter of 2011.
Click to zoom.
Nokia's share continued to slip. The Finnish phone giant has been particularly hard hit in the smartphone market, where it is now attempting a comeback with its Microsoft Windows-based Lumia series, released in NZ in March. However, the company continued its hold on the number one slot.
Korea's Samsung, which has led the pack offering handsets that run on Google's Android software, enjoyed 17.6% annual growth. It stays a strong number two. During the fourth quarter, Samsung reported 30% growth in its handset business, centred on booming sales of its Android-based Galaxy series.
A second Korean company, LG, tied with China's ZTE for fourth place.
LG and ZTE both offer Android-based handsets. But like Samsung, they also support various other platforms.
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Comments and questions5
what would be interesting to know is: total sales per phone rather than just units?
I guess the relatively low disposable incomes of most New Zealanders and the Apple Tax is what is holding Apple Back?
Your headline points up your Apple bias! Third or not - they still only sold 6% of all phones sold!
a look at the profit margin per phone would completely justify the apparent 'bias' towards Apple
Steve Ballmer (Microsoft CEO) once said the following in 2007 :-
... $500? Fully subsidised with a plan? I say, that is the most expensive phone in the world.......now we're selling millions and millions and millions of phones a year, Apple selling zero phones a year. In 6 months, they'll have the most expensive phone by far, ever in the market place and uh, let's see. Let's see how the competition goes.
Now in December 2011 quarter, iPhone sales more than double to 37 million!
Verdict: Steve Ballmer is ignorant.
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