ABI Research said that driven by the added distribution muscle of Verizon Wireless and China’s growing appetite for premium smartphones, Apple posted record shipments in the second quarter of 20.3 million, to become the top smartphone OEM after only four years in the business.
Right on the heels of Apple, Samsung had an amazing second quarter with approximately 19 million smartphone shipments and over five million Galaxy S II shipments in its first 85 days, noted ABI.
ABI Research senior analyst, Michael Morgan, commented: “Although Apple’s 142% year on year growth placed it as number one this quarter, Samsung’s 500% year on year growth shows that going forward, the top smartphone OEM position is Samsung’s to lose.”
The 103 million smartphones shipped in the second quarter of 2011 represent a year on year growth of 62%, and a quarter on quarter growth of 2.2%, said ABI.
While the annual growth rates and second half 2011 outlooks appear healthy for the industry, the second quarter did experience some softness in the market, the research firm added, driven by macro-economic conditions, seasonality and a sharper than expected decline in Nokia’s smartphone business.
The perennial leader in smartphone shipments tumbled to third place this quarter with 16.7 million devices shipped, as Nokia’s smartphone marketshare plummeted from 38% last year and 24% last quarter, to only 16% in the second quarter 2011.
RIM’s growth in international markets was not enough to offset its decline in North America. RIM shipped 13.2 million smartphones representing an 11% quarter on quarter drop. Motorola shipped 4.4 million smartphones in the second quarter as sales into APAC were enough to offset Motorola’s iPhone-induced decline at Verizon Wireless. HTC continued its rise to the middle with 11.5 million shipments in the quarter and 113% growth year on year.
ABI Research believes that 47 million Android smartphones were shipped in the second quarter, giving it 46.4% share of Q2 shipments. Samsung captured 34% of the quartter’s Android shipments, HTC shipped 23%, and Sony Ericsson earned itself 11% Android market share with little help from North American shipments.