By Telecom Lead Team: Q4 2011 saw 453 million handset
shipments leading 2011 annual shipments to an all time high of 1.5 billion
units.
Q4 2011 saw handset shipments of over 452.7 million
units. As a consequence, yearly 2011 shipments of handsets globally reached an
all time high of 1.5 billion units, up from 1.37 billion units in 2010,”
according to Signals and Systems Telecom.
Within this overall rise in Q4 2011 handset shipments
globally, volumes rose in North America by 6 percent over the same period of
2010 driven primarily by the sales of LTE enabled smart phones.
Q4 2011 volumes fell in Western Europe by 10
percent but this decline was more than compensated for by the significant
rises of in Asia Pacific (+21 percent) as well as in Latin and Central America
(+17 percent) and in the Middle East and Africa (+24 percent).
Technologically, while GSM handsets still lead the market
with 239 units shipped in Q4 2011, LTE enabled handsets represent over 30
percent of all units shipped.
Nokia
has achieved a global Q4 2011 market share of 26 percent of all shipments but
while it remains in poll position its share is being steadily eroded by many aggressive
competitors.
By contrast, Samsung in second place with a Q4 2011 share
of 21 percent is catching up the lead position with a performance that is
gradually increasing its share and slowly eroding Nokia’s lead.
Apple, at the third spot continues to make good inroads
globally with its iPhone series and its Q4 2011 share of 6 percent is higher
than all three previous 2011 quarters and it is 2 percent higher on the same
period last year.
LG which dropped its position from the third place in Q3
2011, with a Q4 2011 share of 5 percent may be behind the three leaders
but has plans to continue to move up the field and contend for the global
number 2 place within the near to mid future.
