According to market research firm Gartner, 1.211 billion mobile phones were sold in 2009, a 0.9 percent decrease over 2008. Performance in the last quarter of 2009 was a marked improvement and likely salvaged the year. In Q4, mobile phone sales reached 340 million, an 8.3 percent increase over the same quarter a year earlier.
The picture was rosier when looking at smartphones only where sales reached 172.4 million units, a 23.8 percent improvement over 2008. Again, Q4 was particularly good with shipments rising an impressive 41.1 percent over Q4 2008 to 53.8 million units.
Overall, Nokia remains in first place among device manufacturers with a 36.4 percent market share (down from 38.6 in 2008). It is followed by Samsung with market share rising 3.2 percent to 19.5, LG (10.1 percent), Motorola (4.8 percent) and Sony Ericsson (4.5 percent).
On the smartphone OS side, Symbian continues to lead with a 46.9 percent market share but down from 5.4 percent from a year ago. Research In Motion and Apple both recorded market share increases to 19.9 and 14.4 percent respectively. Windows Mobile in fourth dropped 3.1 percent from a year ago. Linux holds down fifth place with Android in sixth recording a 3.4 percent market share increase to 3.9 percent. Palm’s webOS held down seventh with a 0.7 percent market share.