Worldwide sales for 2010

[Pliablemoose]

http://www.bgr.com/2011/01/28/zte-displaces-apple-as-no-4-phone-maker-rim-bumped-from-top-5/

Top Five Mobile Phone Vendors
Nokia overall unit volume slipped 2.4% in the fourth quarter, which the vendor attributed to the “intense competitive” environment and component shortages. The result was lower feature phone shipments. The company did, however, grow smartphone volume by 38% compared to the same prior-year quarter. Nokia launched the C7 and the C6-01 touchscreen smartphones as well as the C3 combination touchscreen & QWERTY device in the fourth quarter. Still, smartphone ASPs dropped 16% on a year-over-year basis.
Samsung reached a new milestone in 4Q10, pushing through the 80 million unit threshold for the first time in the company’s history and improving its profit margins for the second straight quarter. Driving shipment volumes was the continued success of its Galaxy S smartphones, of which the company sold nearly ten million units worldwide for the year. Similarly, Samsung’s mass-market and touch-screen phones earned a strong following in emerging markets.
LG crossed the 30 million unit mark for the quarter, due in part to the success of Optimus One smartphone sales across multiple regions. LG’s smartphone strategy is paying off; the company sold more than a million units in the first month of availability, and newer versions (Optimus 2X, Optimus Black) are expected later this year. Meanwhile, LG’s feature phones comprised the majority of shipments, but an aging portfolio and lower prices within emerging markets left the company vulnerable to the competition.
ZTE finished the quarter in the number four position with shipments steadily spreading from its home country of China to developing regions such as Africa and Latin America. ZTE has also recently made inroads in developed markets such as Western Europe and the U.S. as well as Japan. While most of its shipments have historically concentrated on entry-level and mid-range devices, some of its recent success is directly attributable to its rapidly expanding smartphone line, such as the Android-based Blade and Racer devices. Meanwhile, its S- and C-series entry-level feature phones provided additional competition within emerging markets.
Apple The iPhone maker slipped to the number 5 position despite a record quarter for unit shipments and the departure soon thereafter of CEO Steve Jobs on medical leave. It was the company’s second straight quarter on IDC’s Top 5 list. The iPhone sold particularly well in developed regions of the world, such as North America and Western Europe. Apple, which said it could have sold more iPhones last quarter had it been able to make more, is set to introduce the touchscreen device on Verizon next month.

I didn't realize ZTE was so big, the only thing I knew they made was the ZTE Peel, the device that turns an iPod Touch into a phone,

 

[shortylickens]

Africa and South America ate getting into the 21st century big time. They will be like many other countries that have more cell phones than land lines.
Apple is pretty impressive considering they only have a handful of models.

 

[zerocool84]

http://www.bgr.com/2011/01/28/zte-displaces-apple-as-no-4-phone-maker-rim-bumped-from-top-5/



I didn't realize ZTE was so big, the only thing I knew they made was the ZTE Peel, the device that turns an iPod Touch into a phone,

Apple being in the #5 spot despite making only smartphones is a great achievement as everyone else got there with smartphones and dumbphones.

 

[akugami]

Great news for all in the cell phone industry is the fact that the cell phone market grew about 18%. There's definitely room for all of the players.

Who the heck is ZTE?

I've never understood the "Apple is losing" argument. Apple iPhone sales grew 86% and still "lost" market share. Again, that is great for all of the cell phone players.

I don't think Jobs's absence will hurt Apple in the short term. I'm sure the iPhone 5 is 99% complete as is the iPad 2. The iPhone 6 and iPad 3 are likely also mostly fleshed out as these projects aren't done at the last minute and take a year or more to incubate. The problem is what's after that? Love Jobs or hate him, he's largely been responsible for the "vision" of Apple. Jobs has always been at his best by looking at various technologies and designs and seeing how they go together.

Nokia is still on top for total units shipped but sales have to be troubling considering how well Android and iOS devices have been selling. That's because Android and iOS occupies the higher price tiers for phones. This was an area that used to be dominated by Nokia. Later RIM took some shares of the premium phone market but didn't really hurt Nokia. Android and iOS also arriving on the scene has killed this segment for Nokia.

I used to buy Nokia phones almost exclusively and paid a pretty penny doing so. Now it doesn't make sense to do so. They were the best phones on the market. They were also very pricey. Nokia could afford to be slow and take their time to release new phones. Nowadays you can get more fully featured and still good quality phones from others now with the added benefit of cross compatibility if you have an Android phone (the most likely OS on phones not from Nokia, Apple, and RIM). I know plenty of people who used to almost exclusively buy Nokia phones and not bat an eye paying $500-700 for the latest Nokia phone. Now they buy iPhones at that price or an Android phone if they want to go cheaper.

RIM has to be unhappy with the current results. They aren't losing money and they certainly aren't losing any sales. They just haven't been growing like Android and iOS have. The problem is more and more corporations are moving to iOS or Android. They don't have any "sexy" new phones on the horizon to draw new users in either. They stand a very real chance of losing mind share and slowly dying out.

 

[MrX8503]

Apple being in the #5 spot despite making only smartphones is a great achievement as everyone else got there with smartphones and dumbphones.

Agreed. #5 with just iPhones is a lot of iPhones.

 

[DivideBYZero]

RIM has to be unhappy with the current results. They aren't losing money and they certainly aren't losing any sales. They just haven't been growing like Android and iOS have. The problem is more and more corporations are moving to iOS or Android. They don't have any "sexy" new phones on the horizon to draw new users in either. They stand a very real chance of losing mind share and slowly dying out.

I disagree.

The article actually links to a slew of new devices due this year, but I suspect you, like many others, already written them off regardless.

 

[akugami]

I disagree.

The article actually links to a slew of new devices due this year, but I suspect you, like many others, already written them off regardless.

I did see them. I still have to stick to my original comment.

From a design standpoint they're rather status quo for RIM and don't really further design in any way. That's not to say the design isn't functional but if you weren't already looking at a BB, the new phones aren't going to attract you from a physical standpoint. From a power perspective, it's mostly on par with the latest Android devices but again, nothing to really make it stand out.

From a UI and features standpoint, BB mostly brings feature parity and much needed improvements compared to iOS and Android. Multitouch, a better browser, redesigned interface, search, better syncing and media handling, and context aware menus which can change depending on what you're doing. Aside from the contextual menus, most of the other improvements are merely bringing it up to parity with iOS and Android.

I'm not saying these aren't nice features but from a user standpoint, none of these new features are really "killer features" that make the new BB's more attractive to the average user if you weren't already enamored with the traditional BB strengths.

 

[DivideBYZero]

I did see them. I still have to stick to my original comment.

From a design standpoint they're rather status quo for RIM and don't really further design in any way. That's not to say the design isn't functional but if you weren't already looking at a BB, the new phones aren't going to attract you from a physical standpoint. From a power perspective, it's mostly on par with the latest Android devices but again, nothing to really make it stand out.

From a UI and features standpoint, BB mostly brings feature parity and much needed improvements compared to iOS and Android. Multitouch, a better browser, redesigned interface, search, better syncing and media handling, and context aware menus which can change depending on what you're doing. Aside from the contextual menus, most of the other improvements are merely bringing it up to parity with iOS and Android.

I'm not saying these aren't nice features but from a user standpoint, none of these new features are really "killer features" that make the new BB's more attractive to the average user if you weren't already enamored with the traditional BB strengths.

Don't take this the wrong way, but I guess you're out of the loop a little on the BB front. Even the Storm 2 had a multitouch screen, and with OS6 the Webkit based Browser is a great, as I demonstrated in a YouTube video recently, the OS has universal search, full media syncing with iTunes support and context aware menus.

As for form, there are really only two major form factors around, KB or touch, but IMHO the new Monaco does look nice in profile and behind, even if the front just looks like yet another touch device.

With 6.1 the full hardware acceleration of the OS window manager and apps will launch the user experience into the current league, at very least. Not to mention the input into this OS from the Swedish TAT group RIM acquired last year.

 

[akugami]

Don't take this the wrong way, but I guess you're out of the loop a little on the BB front. Even the Storm 2 had a multitouch screen, and with OS6 the Webkit based Browser is a great, as I demonstrated in a YouTube video recently, the OS has universal search, full media syncing with iTunes support and context aware menus.

As for form, there are really only two major form factors around, KB or touch, but IMHO the new Monaco does look nice in profile and behind, even if the front just looks like yet another touch device.

With 6.1 the full hardware acceleration of the OS window manager and apps will launch the user experience into the current league, at very least. Not to mention the input into this OS from the Swedish TAT group RIM acquired last year.

Yep. I, unfortunately, have to go by reviews as I only know of one person with a BB phone. I never take things in the wrong way if it's not meant to be confrontational but to correct/inform. Some of our fellow posters take things way too seriously at times.

However, I still have to say that the OS 6 changes that are mentioned only bring it up to parity with Android and iOS. If you aren't already enamored with the BB specific pros, the new features aren't likely to pull you in when the average consumer is blitzed by iPhone and Android commercials. Furthermore, Android and iOS have higher app support for general consumer use. BB does have app support but, once again, it's mostly business oriented. Probably the only thing that stands out to me of the new BB OS 6 changes is the better media syncing and contextual menus.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Yep. I, unfortunately, have to go by reviews as I only know of one person with a BB phone. I never take things in the wrong way if it's not meant to be confrontational but to correct/inform. Some of our fellow posters take things way too seriously at times.

However, I still have to say that the OS 6 changes that are mentioned only bring it up to parity with Android and iOS. If you aren't already enamored with the BB specific pros, the new features aren't likely to pull you in when the average consumer is blitzed by iPhone and Android commercials. Furthermore, Android and iOS have higher app support for general consumer use. BB does have app support but, once again, it's mostly business oriented. Probably the only thing that stands out to me of the new BB OS 6 changes is the better media syncing and contextual menus.

OK, but then consider that BB6 was last October and 6.1 is just around the corner with a large slew of improvements, so you need to look forward, not backward.

Again, with apps I have to disagree. I have 50+ apps on my device, an number that is made up of GPS fitness apps, games (OpenGL, too), utilities, OS hacks, mapping and navigation, novelty, etc. I use many of these on a daily basis. The apps are not business centric in the main, except for WorldMate, but I travel the world on business and therfore that is pretty awesome; it even captures the emails from my travel booking service and updates the app with my full itinerary.

I pretty much have every base covered. The sheer total number of apps is, IMHO, worthless. I've discussed it before, but having 200,000 apps is useless if you only really use seven of them on a regular basis. This was borne out recently with the top ten apps for iOS listed recently, with the usual suspects like Facebook and Angry Birds topping the charts. OK, so no angry birds on BlackBerry...or IS THERE!

 

[gsaldivar]

OK, so no angry birds on BlackBerry...or IS THERE!

That is hilarious!

 

[MrX8503]

I pretty much have every base covered. The sheer total number of apps is, IMHO, worthless. I've discussed it before, but having 200,000 apps is useless if you only really use seven of them on a regular basis. This was borne out recently with the top ten apps for iOS listed recently, with the usual suspects like Facebook and Angry Birds topping the charts. OK, so no angry birds on BlackBerry...or IS THERE!

I can understand how having 200k apps is pointless if you only use a handful, but what non iOS users don't understand is that those handful of apps SUCK.

I think the apps on other platforms do the job, but the alternative app on iOS is several times better.

 

[gsaldivar]

The sheer total number of apps is, IMHO, worthless. I've discussed it before, but having 200,000 apps is useless if you only really use seven of them on a regular basis.

I'm sorry but you're simply wrong here.

Having a greater selection of apps means that for each task, you have many more choices for an app to do that task on your device.

Searching for an app to do a single task on BB might yield 3 results, where on both iOS and Android you may find 30 apps to do the same task.

Only if you assume that users will always be satisfied with (or settle for) whatever RIM has available on its platform for each user's specific need, can you then possibly conclude that having a greater number of apps than competing platforms is "useless".

 

[DivideBYZero]

I can understand how having 200k apps is pointless if you only use a handful, but what non iOS users don't understand is that those handful of apps SUCK.

I think the apps on other platforms do the job, but the alternative app on iOS is several times better.

*sigh* Your fanboy underwear is showing. The alternative app is NOT always better on iOS. For example, Google maps on iOS is the least feature rich of all the mobile versions. Explain that.

Except don't. I'm not interested because you just come into threads to wave the rah rah flag for your choice of device with no attempt at even handed debate. You just wade in with your Apple stickered baseball bat and start swinging.

Yeah, I'm fed up with dancing around you and your mega-bias.

 

[DivideBYZero]

I'm sorry but you're simply wrong here.

Having a greater selection of apps means that for each task, you have many more choices for an app to do that task on your device.

Searching for an app to do a single task on BB might yield 3 results, where on both iOS and Android you may find 30 apps to do the same task.

Only if you assume that users will always be satisfied with (or settle for) whatever RIM has available on its platform for each user's specific need, can you then possibly conclude that having a greater number of apps than competing platforms is "useless".

If you have a choice of 29 shit apps, you still only have one good one. See?

Three apps... Fuck me.

 

[gsaldivar]

If you have a choice of 29 shit apps, you still only have one good one.

Only if you assume that all 29 other choices are inferior to any one.

In the real world, people use a variety of different apps for the same task.

Assuming that only one choice is suitable and appropriate for everyone is ludicrous.

Asserting that all other choices for the same tasks on other platforms is somehow "useless"... is simply wrong.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

*sigh* Your fanboy underwear is showing. The alternative app is NOT always better on iOS. For example, Google maps on iOS is the least feature rich of all the mobile versions. Explain that.

Except don't. I'm not interested because you just come into threads to wave the rah rah flag for your choice of device with no attempt at even handed debate. You just wade in with your Apple stickered baseball bat and start swinging.

Yeah, I'm fed up with dancing around you and your mega-bias.

App count does matter to an extent. But when you get to the 200,000 vs 150,000 of Android vs Apple, it's more quality vs quantity. I think past a certain point (maybe 10,000), you start leveling out. The good stuff is always maybe like 10% of the pile only. There's a bunch of repetitive homemade crap at the bottom 80%.

I think the key is to look at your top apps for each OS and evaluate how good it is. Google Maps may be feature poor on iOS but at the same time the app doesn't slow down or halt like my Android one. However, I do love 3D view and turn by turn, but a lot of times I just wanna search the place, and when my Google Maps freezes up for 15 seconds on my Droid, then... it's close to useless when I'm in a hurry. Plus, I don't get why the zooming/panning is still a bit slow compared to my iPod Touch. I'm glad your Latitude crap has autocheckin with Maps 5.1, but why can't the basic UI be refined so it's blazing fast like the iOS version?

It's kinda like that's great how 2.2 and 2.3 brought some new features, but can we get a smooth UI finally?

 

[MrX8503]

*sigh* Your fanboy underwear is showing. The alternative app is NOT always better on iOS. For example, Google maps on iOS is the least feature rich of all the mobile versions. Explain that.

Except don't. I'm not interested because you just come into threads to wave the rah rah flag for your choice of device with no attempt at even handed debate. You just wade in with your Apple stickered baseball bat and start swinging.

Yeah, I'm fed up with dancing around you and your mega-bias.

Well I'm sure Google isn't exactly concerned with Maps on iOS. In any case most likely it runs like garbage on Android anyway.

If you looked at the third party apps contribution, iOS quality is several times better.

If you have a choice of 29 shit apps, you still only have one good one. See?

Three apps... Fuck me.

The funny thing is the worst app out of the bunch of 30 or so you find is most likely better than the best one on another platform.

The app argument is really a pointless one as it goes no where. As far as I'm concerned I enjoy my iOS app selection and it has the largest developer support.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Well I'm sure Google isn't exactly concerned with Maps on iOS. In any case most likely it runs like garbage on Android anyway.

If you looked at the third party apps contribution, iOS quality is several times better.





The funny thing is the worst app out of the bunch of 30 or so you find is most likely better than the best one on another platform.

The app argument is really a pointless one as it goes no where. As far as I'm concerned I enjoy my iOS app selection and it has the largest developer support.

Stop posting your opinion as fact.

 

[gorcorps]

*sigh* Your fanboy underwear is showing. The alternative app is NOT always better on iOS. For example, Google maps on iOS is the least feature rich of all the mobile versions. Explain that.

Except don't. I'm not interested because you just come into threads to wave the rah rah flag for your choice of device with no attempt at even handed debate. You just wade in with your Apple stickered baseball bat and start swinging.

Yeah, I'm fed up with dancing around you and your mega-bias.

Not that I want to get into this... but I will now. Doesn't this kind of go against your point? Since the built in google maps app is pretty lacking (it very much is) it's a very good thing that we have so many different alternatives. I agree that too many alternatives without much quality control can be a bad thing, but that's what the reviews are for. I'd much rather have too many apps to choose from and have to scroll a little further to find the best one, rather than be stuck with 3 choices that may all suck.

 

[MrX8503]

Stop posting your opinion as fact.

I'm entitled to what I think, just as you think BB OS6 is just as good. You throw the fanboy flag out like candy when you yourself are the most biased of em.

I have admitted BB does some things better in other threads, I have never seen you do the same for other platforms. Owning other devices means jackshit if you don't like them.

 

[purbeast0]

can someone please clarify this google maps thing for me?

i keep hearing it isnt on iOS, but when I was in san diego last july my friend was using google maps on his iPhone to navigate us around, and it was updating real time.

 

[purbeast0]

can someone please clarify this google maps thing for me?

i keep hearing it isnt on iOS, but when I was in san diego last july my friend was using google maps on his iPhone to navigate us around, and it was updating real time.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

can someone please clarify this google maps thing for me?

i keep hearing it isnt on iOS, but when I was in san diego last july my friend was using google maps on his iPhone to navigate us around, and it was updating real time.

It's not turn by turn. Yeah when you navigate, the little arrow showing where you are follows you and the orientation matches your orientation due to the digital compass the iPhone 3GS (and later) have.

But it's not the same voice nav and turn by turn on say a Garmin/Tom-Tom. This is what Androids have. It's nice. I think if they updated the voice sounds I'd throw away my Garmin.

 

[MrX8503]

can someone please clarify this google maps thing for me?

i keep hearing it isnt on iOS, but when I was in san diego last july my friend was using google maps on his iPhone to navigate us around, and it was updating real time.

Like delirum said, on Android it's more of a GPS rather than a map on iOS.