Published: February 07, 2011
Android Rises, Symbian^3 and Windows Phone 7 Launch as Worldwide Smartphone Shipments Increase 87.2% Year Over Year, According to IDC
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - The worldwide smartphone market ended the quarter and the year on a high
note, with vendors shipping record volumes of units. According to the
International Data Corporation (IDC)
Worldwide
Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, vendors shipped a total of 100.9
million smartphones during the fourth quarter of 2010 (4Q10), up 87.2%
from the 53.9 million smartphones shipped during 4Q09. For the full
year, vendors shipped a total of 302.6 million smartphones worldwide, up
74.4% from the 173.5 million smartphones shipped in 2009.
"Android continues to gain by leaps and bounds, helping to drive the
smartphone market," said Ramon
Llamas, senior research analyst with IDC's Mobile Phone Technology
and Trends team. "It has become the cornerstone of multiple vendors'
smartphone strategies, and has quickly become a challenger to market
leader Symbian. Although Symbian has the backing of market leader Nokia,
Android has multiple vendors, including HTC, LG Electronics, Motorola,
Samsung and a growing list of companies deploying Android on their
devices."
Adding to the competitive landscape is the entrance of two refreshed
operating systems, Symbian^3 and Windows Phone 7. "In their first
quarter of commercial availability, both Symbian^3 and Windows Phone 7
ramped up quickly, just in time for the holidays," added Llamas. "By the
end of the quarter, Nokia had shipped five million Symbian^3 units while
Windows Phone 7 vendors shipped more than 1.5 million units. Now, with
the holiday quarter over, both platforms will need to sustain this
initial growth in the quarters to come."
Kevin
Restivo, senior research analyst with IDC's Worldwide Mobile Phone
Tracker program, said component suppliers will help drive sustained
interest in smartphones. "Mobile phone users will find compelling
reasons to turn in their older models as new ones are launched with
dual-core processors and near-field communication chips," he said.
Market Outlook
IDC expects further gains for the smartphone market in 2011, as
smartphone vendors deepen and broaden their offerings. "The high-end of
the market has been important to help grow the smartphone market in
recent years," noted Llamas. "IDC expects vendors to provide more
mid-range and low-end smartphones at lower prices to reach the mass
market. In the same manner, even high-end devices will become available
at lower prices. This will result in greater competition and more
selection for users."
Top Five Smartphone Vendors
Nokia noted the positive progress of its new Symbian^3
smartphones during 4Q10: five million units combined from the N8, C7,
and C601 worldwide, a strong showing given their recent introduction to
the market. At the same time, Nokia's volumes are largely comprised of
older devices, while MeeGo-powered devices have yet to arrive on the
market. In addition, Nokia continues to struggle in the North America
market. The recent cancellation of the X7 smartphone at AT&T highlights
Nokia's challenges and a new device has yet to be revealed.
Apple's iPhone gained more ground in the worldwide smartphone
market, with shipment volume growth coming from Asia/Pacific and Japan.
In addition, Apple made further inroads into the enterprise market, with
more companies adding Apple to their approved smartphone list and
increased development of corporate-centered applications. Rumors of an
iPhone 5 have begun to heat up the blogosphere, with many expecting a
new design and perhaps a mobile wallet.
Research In Motion reached a new shipment volume for a single
quarter in 4Q10, and posted nearly identical year-over-year growth for
both the quarter and the year. Driving growth was stronger interest from
outside North America, with several markets posting double-digit gains.
Meanwhile, RIM continued to enjoy market leadership in North America,
but nonetheless saw mounting challenges from the competition. Popular
devices for the quarter included the BlackBerry Torch and the BlackBerry
Curve 3G.
Samsung took top honors for having the largest year-over-year
improvement for both the quarter and for the year, an accomplishment
largely fueled by its popular Galaxy S series smartphones. New Galaxy
devices are expected to launch, including the Galaxy Fit, Ace, and Mini.
Not to be overlooked are Samsung's bada-branded smartphones, as well as
its emerging Windows Phone smartphones, both of which received a warm
reception. Samsung has set its sights on growing market share at least
40% in 2011.
HTC reaped triple-digit growth for both the quarter and for the
year, second only to Samsung. Driving its success were its increased
brand awareness, market positioning, and a series of devices that have
resonated well with users and carriers alike. Following its success in
2010, the company known for being 'quietly brilliant' aims to become a
preferred brand for smartphone users in 2011, while leveraging its
scalability to drive business in Asia/Pacific and other emerging markets.
Top Five Smartphone Vendors, Shipments, and Market Share, Q4 2010
(Units in Millions)
|
Vendor
|
|
|
|
|
4Q10 Units
Shipped
|
|
|
|
4Q10
Market
Share
|
|
|
|
4Q09 Units
Shipped
|
|
|
|
4Q09
Market
Share
|
|
|
|
Year over
year growth
|
|
Nokia
|
|
|
|
|
28.3
|
|
|
|
28.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
20.8
|
|
|
|
38.6
|
%
|
|
|
|
36.1
|
%
|
|
Apple
|
|
|
|
|
16.2
|
|
|
|
16.1
|
%
|
|
|
|
8.7
|
|
|
|
16.1
|
%
|
|
|
|
86.2
|
%
|
|
Research In
Motion
|
|
|
|
|
14.6
|
|
|
|
14.5
|
%
|
|
|
|
10.7
|
|
|
|
19.9
|
%
|
|
|
|
36.4
|
%
|
|
Samsung
|
|
|
|
|
9.7
|
|
|
|
9.6
|
%
|
|
|
|
1.8
|
|
|
|
3.3
|
%
|
|
|
|
438.9
|
%
|
|
HTC
|
|
|
|
|
8.6
|
|
|
|
8.5
|
%
|
|
|
|
2.4
|
|
|
|
4.5
|
%
|
|
|
|
258.3
|
%
|
|
Others
|
|
|
|
|
23.5
|
|
|
|
23.3
|
%
|
|
|
|
9.5
|
|
|
|
17.6
|
%
|
|
|
|
147.4
|
%
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
100.9
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
53.9
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
87.2
|
%
|
Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, January 27, 2011.
Note:
Vendor shipments are branded shipments and exclude OEM sales for all
vendors.
Top Five Smartphone Vendors, Shipments, and Market Share, Calendar
Year 2010 (Units in Millions)
|
Vendor
|
|
|
|
|
2010 Units
Shipped
|
|
|
|
2010 Market
Share
|
|
|
|
2009 Units
Shipped
|
|
|
|
2009 Market
Share
|
|
|
|
Year over
year growth
|
|
Nokia
|
|
|
|
|
100.3
|
|
|
|
33.1
|
%
|
|
|
|
67.7
|
|
|
|
39.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
48.2
|
%
|
|
Research In
Motion
|
|
|
|
|
48.8
|
|
|
|
16.1
|
%
|
|
|
|
34.5
|
|
|
|
19.9
|
%
|
|
|
|
41.4
|
%
|
|
Apple
|
|
|
|
|
47.5
|
|
|
|
15.7
|
%
|
|
|
|
25.1
|
|
|
|
14.5
|
%
|
|
|
|
89.2
|
%
|
|
Samsung
|
|
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
|
7.6
|
%
|
|
|
|
5.5
|
|
|
|
3.2
|
%
|
|
|
|
318.2
|
%
|
|
HTC
|
|
|
|
|
21.5
|
|
|
|
7.1
|
%
|
|
|
|
8.1
|
|
|
|
4.7
|
%
|
|
|
|
165.4
|
%
|
|
Others
|
|
|
|
|
61.5
|
|
|
|
20.3
|
%
|
|
|
|
32.6
|
|
|
|
18.8
|
%
|
|
|
|
88.7
|
%
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
302.6
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
173.5
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
74.4
|
%
|
Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, January 27, 2011.
Note:
Vendor shipments are branded shipments and exclude OEM sales for all
vendors.
For more information about IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone
Tracker, please contact Kathy Nagamine at 650-350-6423 or knagamine@idc.com.
About IDC
International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of
market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information
technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. IDC
helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment
community to make fact-based decisions on technology purchases and
business strategy. More than 1,000 IDC analysts provide global,
regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities
and trends in over 110 countries worldwide. For more than 47 years, IDC
has provided strategic insights to help our clients achieve their key
business objectives. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading
technology media, research, and events company. You can learn more about
IDC by visiting www.idc.com.
All product and company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks
of their respective holders.
IDC
Ramon T. Llamas, 508-935-4736
rllamas@idc.com
or
Kevin
Restivo, 416-673-2230
krestivo@idc.com
or
Michael
Shirer, 508-935-4200
press@idc.com
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