Apple Slips to Fifth in Global Mobile Phone Share as ZTE Surges

[MacRumors]

Worldwide Mobile Phone Sales in 4Q10 in Millions of Units (Source: IDC)

Research firm IDC yesterday released results for global mobile phone unit shipments in the fourth quarter of 2010, showing Apple slipping to fifth place behind Nokia, Samsung, LG and a surging ZTE. Apple had entered the top five in fourth place last quarter on the strength of the iPhone 4 release, garnering 4.1% of the market, and dropped slightly this quarter to 4.0% as a booming market offset Apple's own unit growth. But on a year-over-year basis, Apple's 86.2% growth easily outpaced the overall market's 17.9% expansion.

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.

Despite only appearing in the top five for the final two quarters of the year, Apple was also able to make the list for full-year 2010, shipping 47.5 million iPhones to snag fifth place with 3.4% of the overall mobile phone market. Apple's shipment increased 89.2% in 2010, well ahead of the overall market's 18.5% growth for the year and enough to push Apple's share of the market to 3.4% from the previous year's 2.1%.

Worldwide Mobile Phone Sales in 2010 in Millions of Units (Source: IDC)

Article Link: Apple Slips to Fifth in Global Mobile Phone Share as ZTE Surges

 

[mlomeli]

This, considering they make only 1 phone...

 

[nastebu]

This, considering they make only 1 phone...

And a relatively expensive phone.

 

[-Ryan-]

I didn't even realise they made handsets - I thought ZTE were a telecom hardware manufacturer.

 

[ravenvii]

Forgive my ignorance, but who are those ZTE guys?

 

[sbrhwkp3]

One phone. One carrier.

Still, Apple needs to jump back in the front of the pack with the iPhone 5. Blow people away.

 

[Steve121178]

I expect to see HTC overtaking Apple sooner rather than later.

 

[batchtaster]

WTF is ZTE?

 

[Wayfarer]

Anyone else read ZFS Filesystem at first?

 

[Steve121178]

One phone. One carrier.

Huh?

 

[clientsiman]

This, considering they make only 1 phone...

OK we all know that Apple makes only one phone, no need to post this in every iPhone news!!!

 

[JPark]

Huh?

Please forgive my fellow Americans for their US-centric view of the world.

 

[alent1234]

This, considering they make only 1 phone...

3 phones

and it's not like all the android phones out there are all that different. it's the same 2-3 designs

 

[Dr McKay]

One phone. One carrier.

Still, Apple needs to jump back in the front of the pack with the iPhone 5. Blow people away.

Technically 4 phones and tonnes of carriers.🙄


http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1937

 

[Tha Professor]

One phone. One carrier.

They are talking about global sales... iPhone is with 3 carriers where I am from...

EDIT: I just GoogleImaged ZTE - horrible fakes all around! no wonder Macrumors never heard about them....

 

[ShiftyPig]

How can you call ZTE a surge when Apple "surged" more?

The "one phone" line is massively tedious.

 

[bmms8]

How can you call ZTE a surge when Apple "surged" more?

The "one phone" line is massively tedious.

YOY growth was higher for ZTE.. though i still dont know what phones they make and who are their customers

 

[h1r0ll3r]

Does anyone know what handsets ZTE makes? I see they make a lot of CDMA phones. Never heard of them before so wasn't sure if they made anything that hit the States recently.

 

[Steve121178]

I could be wrong but ZTE are Chinese and make phones for the Chinese market. So they have 1.3 billion potential customers...

 

[OllyW]

I think MacRumors need to explain exactly what global means when they post these news articles to avoid further confusion. 🙄

 

[spazzcat]

Has anyone asked who ZTE is yet?

 

[alent1234]

Does anyone know what handsets ZTE makes? I see they make a lot of CDMA phones. Never heard of them before so wasn't sure if they made anything that hit the States recently.

looks like they are an OEM for most of the android/win7 phones out there. they will make a basic design that is customized by HTC and others and then resold. or just resold and rebranded under a carrier brand

 

[OllyW]

Has anyone asked who ZTE is yet?

They might have... 😉

Forgive my ignorance, but who are those ZTE guys?

WTF is ZTE?

YOY growth was higher for ZTE.. though i still dont know what phones they make and who are their customers

Does anyone know what handsets ZTE makes? I see they make a lot of CDMA phones. Never heard of them before so wasn't sure if they made anything that hit the States recently.

 

[Oletros]

looks like they are an OEM for most of the android/win7 phones out there. they will make a basic design that is customized by HTC and others and then resold. or just resold and rebranded under a carrier brand

Ein? No

 

[spazzcat]

The crazy thing about this is Apple sells two models. The 3Gs and 4. They are both a higher priced smart phone vs the 100s of dumb phones included in these figures. They are never sold as BOGOs and never given away. And the are in the top five in world sales.