News

27 July 2010

 

Smartphone shipments jump 43% year-on-year to 59.5 million in Q2

Global smartphone shipments grew a healthy 43% from 41.5 million a year ago to a record 59.5 million units in second-quarter 2010, accounting for 19% of total mobile phone handset volumes, according to Strategy Analytics' latest report ‘Q2 2010 Global Smartphone Market Share Update’.

“Sales are being driven at an above-average rate by strong operator subsidies, vigorous competition between high-end vendors, and a tide of lower-cost models using operating software like Symbian and Android,” says analyst Alex Spektor.

Despite ongoing challenges, Nokia’s competitive pricing and heavy retail promotion led to shipments growing from 16.9 million a year ago and 21.5 million last quarter to 24 million. Consequently, the firm’s market share grew from 38.8% last quarter to 40.3%, widening the lead over its competitors.

Blackberry maker Research in Motion Ltd (RIM) grew sales abroad (as well as being number-one smartphone player in North and South America) and shipped 11.2 million smartphones globally (up from 10.6 million last quarter and 8 million a year ago). However, the firm remains a distant second, with its market share falling slightly from 19.1% to 18.8%.

Third-place Apple experienced a mixed quarter, says Strategy Analytics. It shipped 8.4 million iPhones (up from 5.2 million a year ago, but down from 8.8 million last quarter). The firm received mounting public criticism that its iPhone 4’s poor antenna design leads to dropped calls. Apple was also criticized for intensive production methods in China. These factors contributed to its market share slipping from 15.9% last quarter to 14.1%, says Strategy Analytics.

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