Samsung Tops Smartphone Galaxy, iPhone Best Q4 - Windows Phone Nokia #2 in Future

Samsung in 2011 was the number one top smartphone maker in the world according to iHS data. Samsung shipped 95 million smartphones, while Apple shipped 93 million iPhones, followed by 77 million by Nokia, 20 million by Sony and 19 million by Motorola.

In the fourth quarter due to the release of  the Apple iPhone 4S, Apple beat out Samsung by one million.

Samsung for the entire year of 2011 shipped 95 million smartphones, up  278 percent from 25 million in 2010.  This growth allowed it to pass both Apple and previous market leader Nokia to take the No. 1 rank for the entire year of 2011.

However, iHS expects Nokia to gain soon. With the introduction of its award winning  Lumia 900, Nokia  and Windows Phone is set to regain the No. 2 rank in the smartphone operating system in 2015.

“The relatively small growth of Sony Ericsson and Motorola may indicate that the Android smartphone market is becoming too crowded as the various licensees compete for limited consumer mindshare and shelf space,” said IHS analyst, Wayne Lam.

iHS figurse do confirm the best reviewed smartphones of 2011 are taking the lead.  The Samsung Galaxy S II was named the top best smartphones of the year across all carriers.  The  the Windows Phone Nokia Lumia 900 (which won CNET and Laptop Awards) is expected to cost $99.99 with a contract, which is about $100 less than Samsung Galaxy S II models.