Apple pips Nokia to become No.1 smartphone maker in Australia

Apple has overtaken Nokia for the first time to become the number one smartphone vendor in Australia.
The iPhone-maker now accounts for 36.5 per cent of the smartphone market, eclipsing Nokia’s 30.5 per cent share, according to analyst firm IDC’s Q3 Mobile Device Tracker, released today.
But Google’s Android platform is growing even faster than Appe’s iOS with a 21 per cent share, up from 7.1 per cent in Q2 and only 2.1 per cent in Q1.
IDC Australia telecommunications analyst Mark Novosel predicted in May that Apple would knock Nokia off its perch as the number one smartphone maker this year. Today, he said Apple would enjoy a solid run into next year but could soon be overtaken by Android.
“It’s looking like next year it’s going to be close between Android and Apple but I would be inclined to say that Apple will keep its lead, although we have been under pretty much every quarter with our Android forecast so anything really is possible at this stage,” he said in a phone interview.
“Given the way that it is growing, this time next year Android could be number one. It really depends how next year will pan out.”
The figures represent a significant fall from grace for Nokia, which is still the top mobile maker overall with a 37.6 per cent share but has struggled to compete in the high-end smartphone space. Its latest offering, the N8, has been panned by reviewers due to the lacklustre Symbian operating system.
“Nokia remained at the top of the smartphone market since 2002, when it unseated Palm to become the highest selling smartphone vendor in Australia,” Novosel said.
“Nokia’s dominance was seemingly unstoppable. However, three years after launching, Apple has done what once seemed impossible.”
IDC’s figures cover sales up until the end of September. Novosel compiled them based on primary research and interviews with vendors, carriers, retailers and distributors.
Australian smartphone shipments rose 67 per cent year-on-year and more than 60 per cent of new mobiles sold are smartphones.
Novosel said Android’s solid growth could be attributed largely to high-end smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy S and HTC Desire.
Other, newer, Android phones such as the HTC Desire HD were not covered by the Q3 figures but Novosel expected it to continue to drive Android’s growth. He said Android was also entering the mid-range and low-end prepaid market, which would lift its numbers significantly.
“2011 will be a critical year in the Australian market, Android will continue its strong upward trend, with Apple’s iOS leading the charge,” Novosel said.
“Nokia must fast-track the development of its high-end Meego-powered smartphones, in order to regain market share and avoid being overtaken by Android.”
Nokia Australia spokeswoman Tracy Postill said she would not comment on “third-party numbers” due to differences in methodologies and the quality of the analysis and data collection tools used. She said there were also discrepancies in how “smartphone” is defined.
Article via Stock & Land