Smartphones have overtaken PC shipments in 2011, with Apple the
leading smartphone seller last year due to the fourth quarter
performance of the iPhone 4S.
New research from Canalys showed there were 487.7m smartphones
shipped last year, up 62.7% on 2010. The number of PCs shipped,
including netbooks, notebooks and desktops, was 414.6m, up 14.8% on the
previous year. Smartphones had a strong fourth quarter with 158.5m
shipped, up 56.6% on the same period in 2010. This also outstripped PC
shipments, with only 120.2m sold during that quarter.
However, the analysts were cautious about smartphone growth
continuing to flourish into 2012. It predicted manufacturers will
exercise greater cost control and discpline, and focus more on
profitability.
Canalys said Apple's fourth quarter performance, when it shipped
37.0m iPhones, smashed the record of Nokia's 28.3m smartphones shipped
during Q4 2010. It said Apple's 2011 performance was down to pent-up
demand for the iPhone 4S but also high demand for the
'aggressively
priced' iPhone 4 and 3GS models.
Samsung more than trebled the number of smartphones shipped last
year, from 24.9m in 2010 to 91.9m last year. The researchers said:
'Samsung continued to spend big on marketing activities, and its strong
product portfolio - particularly the Android-based Galaxy S II -
performed well.'
The report said there was cause for optimism over Nokia's long-term
plans, despite it posting poor financial results for last year. It
shipped 77.3m smartphones during last year. Canalys researchers said its
fourth quarter performance, when it shipped 19.6m smartphones, down 31%
from its 2010 record but up 17% on the previous quarter, was
encouraging.
Senior analyst Tim Shepherd said: 'Nokia must continue to build out
its Lumia portfolio with devices tailored to address all price points
and all the markets in which it aims to compete. It must hasten its
transition from Symbian to Windows Phone around the world and, with
Microsoft, promote and generate excitement for the platform and new
products.'
Researchers claimed reports of Research in Motion's demise had been
'overplayed' but added the manufacturer needs to move quickly to bring
its BlackBerry 10 devices to market. Principal analyst Pete Cunningham
said: 'There is no denying that RIM has had a tough year. But when you
consider that it is transitioning to a new platform it has done well to
increase volume while remaining profitable; the latter point being
something that many other vendors struggle with.'
The report said Android accounted for 52% of global shipments in Q4
2011, with iOS at 23% and Symbian on 12%. Android also led the way for
2011, accounting for 49% of all devices shipped. Second was iOS with a
19% share followed by Symbian with 16%.
Chris Jones, Canalys VP and principle analyst, said: 'Smartphone
shipments overtaking those of client PCs should be seen as a significant
milestone. In the space of a few years, smartphones have grown from
being a niche product segment at the high-end of the mobile phone market
to becoming a truly mass market proposition. The greater availability
of smartphones at lower price points has helped tremendously, but there
has been a driving trend of increasing consumer appetite for internet
browsing, content consumption and engaging with apps and services on
mobile devices.'
Source:http://www.mobiletoday.co.uk/News/13908/smartphones_outstripping_PCs_shipments.aspx
Source:http://www.mobiletoday.co.uk/News/13908/smartphones_outstripping_PCs_shipments.aspx