The smartphone market continues to grow at dizzying speeds, growing by by 64% annually across the world according to the latest numbers from Canalys. While the usual suspects all recorded strong growth numbers, all are likely keeping an eye on Google Android which grew 886 percent when compared to the same quarter a year ago thanks to the increasing number of manufacturers adopting the OS.
“The latest release of our detailed and complete country-level smart phone shipment data for Q2 2010 clearly reveals the impressive momentum Android is gaining in markets around the world,” said Canalys VP and Principal Analyst, Chris Jones, commenting on the publication. “In the United States, for example, we have seen the largest carrier, Verizon Wireless, heavily promoting high-profile Android devices, such as the Droid by Motorola and the Droid Incredible by HTC. These products have been well received by the market, with consumers eager to download and engage with mobile applications and services, such as Internet browsing, social networking, games and navigation.”
Nokia retained the lead in the worldwide smart phone with a 38 percent market share and recorded a 41 percent growth year-over-year. Research In Motion followed with an 18 percent market share (and a similar 41 percent year-over-year growth). Apple took third with its iPhone, achieving a 13 percent market share (with 61 percent YOY growth).
The US market is the largest smartphone market accounting for 23 percent of total global shipments in Q2 2010. The top three there show a different picture with RIM leading with a 32 percent market share followed by Apple (21.7 percent) and HTC (14.4 percent).
Canalys expects that smartphones will make up over 27 percent of handset shipments by 2013. In markets such as Western Europe and North America, smartphones shipments could account for 60 and 48 percent respectively by then.