IDC said that ZTE had become the fourth biggest handset supplier globally in the fourth quarter of 2010, shipping 16.8 million units to push Apple into fifth place with its 16.2 million units, and knocking RIM out of the top five. According to the research firm, ZTE is making inroads into Western Europe, the US and Japan, as well as developing markets in Africa and Latin America. It was also noted that while ZTE has historically focused on the low-end, it is now increasing its presence in the smartphone space, with its Android-powered devices. For the full year, IDC’s figures still put ZTE in fourth place, although with RIM replacing Apple in fifth. The study also said that third-placed LG is starting to see its smartphone strategy pay-off, aided by its Optimus One device which sold more than 1 million units in its first month of availability, and with successors in the pipeline.

The figures contrast with results published last week by Strategy Analytics, which put Apple and RIM as fourth and fifth in Q4, with ZTE not even broken out of its “others” category. The earlier survey also highlighted the fact that recovering vendors Motorola and Sony Ericsson are not far from the rest of the pack. These companies face some challenges, however. In Motorola’s case, the imminent launch of Apple’s iPhone by Verizon Wireless may impact sales of its smartphones by this operator, in what is one of its key strategic markets – 63 percent of its revenue comes from North America. Strategy Analytics also noted “volatile demand” for Sony Ericsson’s aging 3G portfolio, although this vendor is expected to announce a refresh at the GSMA Mobile World Congress next month.