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Apple grabbed Q4 global smartphone lead, Samsung wins 2011

Summary: While the late release of the iPhone 4S likely hampered Apple's record for the year, Samsung soared overall because of its strategy to offer more smartphones with varying price points and operating systems.

Rachel King

By for Between the Lines |

Apple has retaken the top of the leader board of the global smartphone market share, according to new research from IHS iSuppli.

Concurring with Apple executives' remarks on Tuesday during the investors conference call, IHS senior analyst Wayne Lam explained in the report that Apple's first fiscal quarter success rested on the release of the iPhone 4S:

Apple’s introduction of the 4S in the fourth quarter unleashed tremendous pent-up demand for the iPhone as consumers awaited the arrival of the latest model. This caused the company’s smartphone shipments to surge, allowing it to retake market leadership by a slight margin. However, Apple and Samsung continue to run neck and neck in global smartphone shipments, setting up a tight battle for leadership that will continue throughout 2012.

Apple reported on Tuesday that it sold a record 37.5 million iPhones last quarter.

Nevertheless, Samsung still won the war that was 2011, with a total of approximately 95 million smartphones shipped. That's a 278 percent increase from 25 million in 2010.

While the late release of the iPhone 4S likely hampered Apple's record for the year, Lam pointed out that Samsung soared overall because of its strategy to offer a "complete line of smartphone products, spanning a variety of price points, features and operating systems."

It's also important to note that iSuppli also did publish a correction specifying that the table includes results from smartphone manufacturers that have already report their results. It lacks the results of companies that have not done so yet.

iSuppli also recently reported that Android owned the majority of the smartphone operating system market share in 2011, and will likely do so through 2015. However, iSuppli also predicted that Windows Phone OS will climb to a more competitive percentage within the next three years.

Table via iSuppli

Related:

Topics: Apple, Android, Hardware, iPhone, Mobile OS, Operating Systems, Samsung, Smartphones, AT&T

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12 comments
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  • RE: Apple grabbed Q4 global smartphone lead, Samsung wins 2011

    Cumulative figures > Quarterly figures.
    ConceptVBS
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Apple grabbed Q4 global smartphone lead, Samsung wins 2011

      @ConceptVBS
      Profits > Any other metric.
      x I'm tc
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Apple grabbed Q4 global smartphone lead, Samsung wins 2011

        @jdakula

        Profits < All there is in life (as long as profiteering isn't the sole reason to justify existence, in which case there's no such things as life or living...)
        HypnoToad72
        Reply Vote

  • RE: Apple grabbed Q4 global smartphone lead, Samsung wins 2011

    Notice how they always separate Android by manufacturer but never does it with all the devices running Windows Mobile. This is to provide a false reality since Apple is threatened by Android devices. The don't do it with Symbian, Bada or RIM. They count every other OS devices no matter what the manufacturer by the amount of devices running the OS. Android devices ARE THE ONLY ONES not counted in this manner. Speaks volume to consumers. We get it and we keep buying Android devices.<br><br>Saw another weak article on ATT the bottom of the carrier market, who lost billions and pretty much the bulk of their subscribers, being pat on the back for only activating iPhones and very few Android devices as if that was a great feat. Most would have to be stuck on stupid to sign a contract with ATT who has the worse customer service record in the telecom industry. And, they did not give a number count of how many Android phones they did activate. Apple is pathetic and that memo of how they outlined how they knew about the human rights violations for over two years but did not care. Let's you know just what type of person you are if you buy Apple products. Birds of a feather, flock together.
    techenduser
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Apple grabbed Q4 global smartphone lead, Samsung wins 2011

      @techenduser wow someone seems pretty bitter.
      CowLauncher
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Apple grabbed Q4 global smartphone lead, Samsung wins 2011

        @CowLauncher Not bitter tired of the nonsense. How do you call yourself a tech magazine when you consistently deliver misinformation? Nobody comes here for some fanboy's opinion. Just report it like it is. I wouldn't care if they count all devices running iOS against all devices running Android. Everybody knows it wouldn't be any match up the margin would be that astounding for Android. Apple is the one who is bitter because Schmidt left with Android something Jobs thought was his and swore with a vengeance to take down. We can tell by these type articles tech sites are helping to do his bidding. Sad, he was so bitter.
        techenduser
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Apple grabbed Q4 global smartphone lead, Samsung wins 2011

      @techenduser - AT&T works just fine in my area, most of the time.

      I can't even get others' signals in my area.

      Except Verizon, but I prefer T-Mobile to Verizon right now...

      And no, I did not ever voice support of the AT&T/T-Mobile merger...
      HypnoToad72
      Reply Vote

    • Go buy some pom-poms and be done with it

      It's not clear what grouping devices from different hardware manufacturers together does, except create bragging rights for Android fanbois. The reason analysts track individual hardware manufacturers' market shares is that these are roughly predictive of future margins. That's because the number of devices sold tells us something about the quantity discounts a manufacturer is getting from component suppliers, what their advertising and administrative expenses per unit sold are, and so on. Since Google is not buying components or purchasing media advertising, none of those metrics matter insofar as "Android" is concerned. Similarly, knowing how many Android devices were sold tells us nothing useful about Motorola's prospects, or HTC's, or anyone's. It doesn't even tell us anything useful about Google's prospects, since Android is a tiny wart on Google's butt.
      Robert Hahn
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Apple grabbed Q4 global smartphone lead, Samsung wins 2011

      @techenduser
      The article is about manufacturers and device shipments, not mobile-OS marketshare. That is why they list manufacturers and don't mention google or Microsoft in the chart. There is no grand conspiracy, fanboy.
      Tigertank
      Reply Vote

  • Now that the Samsung Galaxy S has GINGERBREAD

    And my doing a clean install, I've found it to be a LOT more reliable than 2.1...

    Flash 11 has worked VERY well, too.

    YMMV, but Apple does have a competitor on its hands.

    And if .NET remains relevant, I might even look at WP7.5...
    HypnoToad72
    Reply Vote

  • You need to tell Ed Bott

    He chose Q4 of 2011, you know, the quarter that Apple released it's new phone. And based on that quarter alone, claimed Apple won. I mean, how lame is that. Seriously. It's been a while since I read ZDnet, and nothing much has changed. Still the same old has beens cranking out their glib troll bait, where number of comments is paramount over accuracy and impartiality. What next ZDnet, piracy is the cause of your falling revenue. It's always someone elses fault.
    Bozzer
    Reply Vote

    • ZDNet = pseudo-tech opinion

      @Bozzer
      But then, superficial rubbish seems to attrack most of the flies.
      Patanjali
      Reply Vote
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