The International Data Corporation has reported that the worldwide mobile phone market grew 19.8% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2011, with smartphones gaining in popularity. A total of 371.8 million mobile devices were shipped in Q1 of 2011, compared with 310.5 million units in the first quarter of 2010.
In terms of overall market share, Nokia remained in the lead with 29.2%, followed by Samsung, LG, Apple and ZTE.
When it comes to smartphones, the market grew 79.7% in the previous 12 months. IDC calculates that vendors shipped 99.6 million units in Q1 2011, up from 55.4 million units in Q1 2010.
Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst with IDC’s Mobile Phone Technology and Trends team, said “Conditions in the smartphone market are creating a perfect storm for sustained smartphone growth. First, vendors are increasingly emphasizing smartphones as the key to their own growth. Second, selection has proliferated from mostly high-end devices to include more mid-range and entry-level offerings. Third, pricing has become increasingly competitive, with even high-end devices available at low price points. Finally, users continue to seek greater utility from their mobile phone beyond voice, and smartphones have been the ideal solution. Altogether, these add up to continued smartphone growth throughout the year.”
Nokia still leads with 24.3% smartphone market share, although IDC says Apple is closing the gap. Research In Motion remains in third place, with Samsung in fourth and HTC in fifth.
[IDC report]