IDC has released its latest world smartphone data for the third quarter of 2011. Although smartphone growth was lower than expected due to the delays iPhone 4S launch. Samsung came in first, followed by Apple(2), Nokia(3), HTC(4) and RIM(5).
Samsung's rise to the top was a result of its broad product range and aggressive expansion of innovation in smartphone models such as Samsung Galaxy S II noted analyst Ramon Llamas. Samsung showed a 233.3% increase over last year while HTC showed a 115.3% increase and Apple had a 21.3% increase over last year.
IDC's numbers were similar to other research firms, except in the United States where HTC became the top smartphone maker according to Canalys.
Top Five Smartphone Vendors
- Samsung became the new leader in the worldwide smartphone market, with total smartphone shipments topping the 20 million unit mark for the first time in the company's history. Its Android-powered smartphones drove volumes higher, and joining the product mix was Samsung's refreshed Galaxy S II.
- Apple, after taking the number one spot last quarter from Nokia, slipped to the number two spot worldwide. But even after relying on the iPhone 4 for five quarters and the iPhone 3G S for nine, demand for the iPhone remained strong enough for Apple to realize double-digit growth year over year. Now that Apple has launched its iPhone 4S and re-priced its older models in multiple countries, Apple stands poised to challenge Samsung for the leadership position.
- Nokia maintained its third place position on the strength of its Symbian phones. Its most popular smartphones included older models, including the 5230, C5, and the C7. In addition, Nokia launched four models based on its newly enhanced Symbian Belle OS, including the Nokia 600, 603, 700, and 701 as well as its first MeeGo-powered smartphone, the N9. While these new models kept Nokia's selection fresh, the N9 is expected to see limited availability and the Nokia 600 has been cancelled.
- HTC moved up one spot and maintained its upward momentum during 3Q11. During the quarter, HTC acquired several companies to complement its devices, including Dashwire for cloud-based sync, Zoodles for kid-oriented applications, and a stake in audio company Beats. At the same time, HTC launched several devices for specific segments, including the multimedia-optimized Sensation, female oriented Rhyme, and the entry-level Explorer. HTC expects to ship similar volumes in 4Q11.
- Research In Motion began shipping its new BB OS 7 smartphones to the market during 3Q11, including updated versions of the BlackBerry Bold, BlackBerry Curve, and the BlackBerry Torch. But, as in previous quarters, the company's volumes were primarily comprised of older and less expensive models, leading to the company's first quarter of year-on-year decline and landing in the number 5 position worldwide. Still, this was enough for Research In Motion to maintain a presence among the top five vendors worldwide, with a sizable margin ahead of the remaining