In According to data published by Strategy Analytics and published on News.com, Samsung's global share of smartphone sales went up dramatically from 12.2% in Q1 of 2011 to 30.6% in Q1 2012. Apple's share during this period also rose, but to a much lesser extent, from 18.1% to 24.1%.
At third place is Nokia, whose share declined significantly from a respectable 23.5% to an abysmal 8.2% in this period. Overall, the number of smartphones sold across the world rose from 103 million units in the first quarter of last year to about 145 million in Q1 of 2012.
While there are other players in the smartphone market, including the once-dominant BlackBerry, Motorola Mobility (acquired by Google) and HTC, analysts are of the view that the market seems likely to be a two-horse race (Samsung and Apple).
Another research firm, IHS iSuppli, however, ranks Apple as the No. 1 player in smartphones and puts Samsung as the top player in the overall cellphone space.
Interestingly, all the major players have been reported to have shown negative growth (Q1 2012 over Q1 2011) when it comes to the overall mobile market, as per iSuppli data quoted on News.com. Here's how the numbers stack up: Samsung (-13%, 106 mn units against 92 mn); Nokia (-27%; 114 mn units against 83 mn); Apple (-5%; 37 mn units compared to 35 mn); LG (-23%; 18 mn and 14 mn); and RIM (-21%; 14 mn and 11 mn units).
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