Nokia surrenders 20-point lead in smartphone market

Beleaguered Finnish firm haemorrhages sales and market share as Apple turns the screw

Nokia's fall from grace continues, with the Finnish firm slipping from first to third in the smartphone market, having been 20 points ahead just a year ago.

Research from IDC finds that worldwide second-quarter smartphone shipments grew 65.4 per cent annually to 106.5 million. This follows 84 per cent year-on-year growth in Q1, and IDC is projecting a full-year market expansion rate of 55 per cent.

Q2 2011 saw Apple crowned king of the smartphone arena for the first time. The iPhone maker grew shipments by 141.7 per cent annually to 20.3 million, giving it a market share of 19.1 per cent.

IDC senior research analyst Ramon Llamas indicated that Apple could go on to strengthen its position at the top.

"Ever since the first iPhone launched in 2007, Apple has made market-setting strides in hardware, software, and channel development to grab mind share and market share," he said. "Demand has been so strong that even models that have been out for one or two years are still being sought out. With an expected refresh later this year, volumes are set to reach higher levels."

But Samsung, in second, was last quarter's biggest winner, with shipments up a mammoth 380.6 per cent to 17.3 million. The Korean firm's market share has leapt by almost 11 points in the past year and now stands at 16.2 per cent.

Earlier this year Nokia lost its long-held crown as the biggest vendor in the wider mobile phone market and it has now lost its dominance in the smartphone market, slipping to the third spot in Q2.

The vendor shipped 16.7 million units in Q2, down from 24 million in the corresponding period last year. This gave it a market share of 15.7 per cent. In Q2 2010 Nokia held 37.3 per cent of the market, 20 points ahead of second-placed RIM.

The BlackBerry maker also felt the pain in Q2, posting comparatively muted growth of just 10.7 per cent. Its 12.4 million shipments gave the Canadian firm an 11.6 per cent market share, down almost six points on last year.

Fifth-placed HTC was another to enjoy success in Q2, with shipments growing 165.9 per cent annually to 11.7 million and market share up more than four points to 11 per cent.

Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst at IDC, said: "The smartphone market leadership change signifies the parity that comes with a fast-growing market such as smartphones. There is no runaway leader in the market, which means there could easily be further top-five-vendor changes to come."