IDC: Samsung knocks Nokia from European handset top-spot

Research firm IDC said that Samsung had usurped Nokia to become the biggest handset vendor in the Western European market, with Apple also unseating Nokia to become the biggest smartphone vendor in the region. Francisco Jeronimo, European mobile devices research manager at IDC, noted that: “Nokia is one of the most recognized and appreciated brands in Europe, but Samsung was the one understanding the trends first and moving faster. Samsung understood early the trend on touchscreen devices and became the market leader on feature-phones by providing a full range of devices at very competitive prices.” The figures also show that Nokia is the only top-five vendor to see its shipment volumes decreasing, in a market that is increasing in size overall. The performance of HTC is also of note, with a 271 percent year-on-year increase in shipments taking it to fifth place.

IDC also published figures for the worldwide smartphone market, which grew by 79.7 percent to reach 99.6 million units during the first three months of the year. Nokia maintained its global number one position, although its market share fell to 24.3 percent from 38.8 percent, with IDC noting the company’s transition from Symbian OS to Windows Phone, and warning that “it may find itself in danger of ceding market share as the competition ramps up smartphone production.” Apple more than doubled its shipments to win number two spot from ailing RIM, which also grew more slowly than the market, with IDC noting that “the majority of RIM’s shipment volumes have been comprised of older, lower-cost devices.”

Top Western European Mobile Phone Vendors, Total Shipments and Market Share, 1Q11

Source: IDC (May 2011)