The IDC report for the first quarter of the year 2012 has revealed that Samsung has ended the long reign of Nokia to claim the position of the top mobile phone vendor in the world. A 1.5 percent decline in the phone market was also witnessed as sales dropped down to 398.4 million units in the first quarter of this year, from the 404.3 million recorded in Q1 2011.
The smartphone market increased by 42.5 percent year over year in the first quarter as 144.9 million smartphones were shipped compared to 101.7 million in the first quarter of last year. But this growth decreased from 57.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011. Additionally, Samsung also managed to overtake Apple to gain the leadership in the smartphone market in particular.
“The race between Apple and Samsung remained tight during the quarter, even as both companies posted growth in key areas. Apple launched its popular iPhone 4S in additional key markets, most notably in China, and Samsung experienced continued success from its Galaxy Note smartphone/tablet and other Galaxy smartphones. With other companies in the midst of major strategic transitions, the contest between Apple and Samsung will bear close observation as hotly-anticipated new models are launched,” stated Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst with IDC’s Mobile Phone Technology and Trends program.
According to IDC, the growth in Samsung shipments can be attributed to the rise in the demand for Galaxy smartphones. Apple now holds the second position in the worldwide phone market and it shipped about 35.1 million units. Nokia’s decline is said to be mainly due to a drop in the sales of its Symbian powered phones. RIM and HTC follow Samsung, Nokia and Apple to take the third and the fourth positions, respectively.
The research is supported by the IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker.