Nokia Loses, Apple Gains - - Top five smartphone vendors 2Q 2011: IDC

Apple at the summit as Nokia's volumes dip below 20 million for the first time since 3Q 2009.

Apple has emerged as the number one smartphone vendor globally, as the worldwide mobile phone market grew 65.4% year over year in the second quarter of 2011 (2Q11).

The total smartphones shipments exceeded 100 million units foe the third consecutive quarter, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker 2Q11.

The other companies in the top five list are: Samsung, Nokia, BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) and HTC.

IDC said that Apple's success can be directly attributed to its distribution - with over 200 carriers in more than 200 countries, increased manufacturing capacity, and solid demand within emerging and developed markets from both consumers and business users.

However, Apple has yet to top Nokia's single-quarter volume record of 28.1 million units.

IDC's Mobile Phone Technology and Trends team senior research analyst Ramon Llamas said the smartphone market crowned a new leader in 2Q11, and its name is Apple.

"Ever since the first iPhone launched in 2007, Apple has made market-setting strides in hardware, software, and channel development to grab mindshare and market share. Demand has been so strong that even models that have been out for one or two years are still being sought out. With an expected refresh later this year, volumes are set to reach higher levels," said Llamas.

The biggest gainer in the quarter was South Korea-based Samsung. The company's Galaxy S smartphones helped it realise the largest year-over-year growth of any vendor among the top five.

IDC said that Samsung's bada-powered smartphones likewise grew, while demand for its Windows Phone smartphones has cooled off.

Apple's rise to the top comes at a time when former worldwide leader Nokia is in the midst of a major transition.

Nokia ceded the number one position for the first time in the history of IDC's Mobile Phone Tracker, with smartphone volumes dipping below the 20 million unit mark for the first time since 3Q09.

Even as the company released new smartphones running on Symbian^3, demand for its products running on the aged Symbian platform has shifted to other devices.

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