As manufacturers release their quarterly results, so analysts calculate what the figures mean. The latest of those reports comes from the International Data Corporation (IDC), which says the worldwide mobile phone market grew 17.9% in the fourth quarter of 2010. Its Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker report says 401.4 million mobile devices were shipped in Q4, bringing 2010’s total to 1.39 billion units. That’s up 18.5% from the 1.17 billion units shipped in 2009.

Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst with IDC's Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker, said “The mobile phone market has the wind behind its sails. Mobile phone users are eager to swap out older devices for ones that handle data as well as voice, which is driving growth and replacement cycles. Feature phone users looking to do more with their devices will flock to smartphones in the years to come. This trend will help drive smartphone sub-market to grow 43.7% year over year in 2011.”

Nokia remained the world’s leading mobile manufacturer by volume. Its overall unit volume slipped 2.4% in the fourth quarter, although quarterly smartphone volume grew by 38% year-on-year.

Second place Samsung exceeded 80 million units in a quarter for the first time in the company's history, with third place LG shipping 30 million units in Q4.

China’s ZTE finished the quarter in fourth place; the first time it’s been in the IDC top five. And Apple, despite an 86% increase in shipments, was in fifth place. The same ‘top four’ positions were held by each of the manufacturers for overall 2010 sales, with RIM keeping Apple out of fifth place.

Top five mobile phone vendors, shipments, and market share; 2010 totals

Units are millions. Source: IDC Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker, 27th January 2010. Shipments are branded shipments and exclude OEM sales for all vendors.

[Updated 30th January with revised figures from IDC]