More than 55 million smartphone shipped in 1Q10, says ABI Research
The global smartphone market continued to build on its strong performance in the fourth quarter of 2009 with shipments in the first three months of 2010 totaling a little more than 55 million units, according to ABI Research.
Though that represents a drop of about one million from the previous quarter, seasonal sales cycles always produce lower results in the first quarter of any year compared to the previous quarter. According to senior analyst Michael Morgan, "Normally we would see a much greater decline in shipments in the first quarter; the fact that the drop was so relatively small highlights the continuing dynamic growth of the smartphone market."
Much of the fast growth is being seen in markets previously little penetrated by expensive, cutting-edge smartphones. With new less expensive models becoming available, the global market is becoming much more diverse.
An example is provided by Nokia. Its first-quarter shipments rose quarterly from 20.8 million units to 21.5 million units despite seasonal impacts, mostly on strengths of its C and X lines, which consist mostly of lower cost smartphones. Nokia has a history of success in lower-cost feature phone markets, but until recently their smartphone lineup was exclusively high-end.
"These are not 'iPhone-killers'," noted Morgan. "They're simpler, lower-end devices, not bleeding-edge top-of-the-line technologies, but they can still deliver satisfying social networking and other basic smartphone experiences."
iPhone shipments also rose slightly, from 8.7 to 8.8 million, partly on the back of strong performance in markets such as Japan and China. Morgan said, "The smartphone market as a whole was probably buoyed by improving first quarter holiday season demand from the Asia-Pacific region."
Though that represents a drop of about one million from the previous quarter, seasonal sales cycles always produce lower results in the first quarter of any year compared to the previous quarter. According to senior analyst Michael Morgan, "Normally we would see a much greater decline in shipments in the first quarter; the fact that the drop was so relatively small highlights the continuing dynamic growth of the smartphone market."
Much of the fast growth is being seen in markets previously little penetrated by expensive, cutting-edge smartphones. With new less expensive models becoming available, the global market is becoming much more diverse.
An example is provided by Nokia. Its first-quarter shipments rose quarterly from 20.8 million units to 21.5 million units despite seasonal impacts, mostly on strengths of its C and X lines, which consist mostly of lower cost smartphones. Nokia has a history of success in lower-cost feature phone markets, but until recently their smartphone lineup was exclusively high-end.
"These are not 'iPhone-killers'," noted Morgan. "They're simpler, lower-end devices, not bleeding-edge top-of-the-line technologies, but they can still deliver satisfying social networking and other basic smartphone experiences."
iPhone shipments also rose slightly, from 8.7 to 8.8 million, partly on the back of strong performance in markets such as Japan and China. Morgan said, "The smartphone market as a whole was probably buoyed by improving first quarter holiday season demand from the Asia-Pacific region."
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