The results for Q2, 2011 are:
1) Apple – 19% of the Global Smartphone Market (with the iPhone 5G slated for release in September they are still the firm to be beat)
2) Samsung – 380% year-over-year growth (moving closer to their stated goal of being the #1 player in this space)
3) Nokia – 30% drop in units sold (failing forward continues unabated)
4) RIM – Lost market share overall (in an even worse position than their rivals from Finland)
5) HTC – Moved up to this position with just under 12% of the total market (with big gains continuing in China )
Clearly; a lot can and, seemingly, does change quarter-to-quarter within the smartphone market. And, if the current trends continue Nokia (in the midst of a pending transfer to Windows Phone 7 with America being omitted from their preliminary launch-list) and RIM (with essentially nothing other than a reconstituted BlackBerry) are going to slide further; Samsung just might pass Apple (if they can sustain the incredible momentum that the Galaxy S II generated) while HTC continues their rise (coming out of nowhere since the company jumped into this space).
The rough-and-tumble, smartphone space will stay hot; interesting and contentious as this year progresses with who knows if and when any major surprises or litigation will create yet another variable for the competition to contend with.
Stay tuned…
From the Washington Post: http://goo.gl/euqOJ