Analyzing the data for a decade and marking trends on that data is an interesting activity. VisionMobile, a market analysis firm, has done just that for the mobile handset manufacturers (OEM’s). Mobile handset market has seen a steady growth from 2001 with a dip only in year 2009.
Throughout the 10 year period (2001-2010), two handset manufacturers were a constant present – Nokia and Samsung. Nokia as a leader and Samsung as a close follower. Based on number of units sold alone, for the decade, Motorola, LG and Sony Ericsson occupy the next three positions.
400 million handsets were sold in 2001.
1.4 billion handsets were sold in 2010.
Top 5 mobile handset manufacturers for the period 2001-2010 :
- Nokia – 3.08 billion handsets
- Samsung – 1.3 billion handsets
- Motorola – 1 billion handsets
- LG – 635 million handsets
- Sony Ericsson – 540 million handsets
The competition till 2009, more or less remained the same with manufacturers swapping places. Siemens had strong presence from 2001-2004 but fell off the top 5 radar in 2005. LG has entered the top 5 chart only in 2004. Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Samsung and Nokia were present in the top manufacturers for 9 straight years till 2009.
2010 changed the dynamics of the mobile handset market as the old feature phones Nokia is known for, were no longer in vogue. Though 80% of the phones shipped in 2010 are feature phones, the world was swept away by the smartphone, touch screen and Android forces. Though Research in Motion has initiated the smartphone revolution, Apple took it to the next stage. After introducing the iPhone in 2007, Apple has entered the top 5 chart in 2010 by selling around 45 million handsets that year. All the handsets sold by Apple are smartphones.
The smartphone revolution, meant RIM and Apple gaining key positions in the top 5 manufacturers chart toppling Sony Ericsson and Motorola. 2011 promises to be yet another exciting year for handset OEM’s.
Check out this excellent infographic : A decade of Top 5 Handset OEM’s
Via Visual.ly