Apple Now #2 in Worldwide Smartphone Sales

Telecom News Editorials Reports Glossary

7:30 am on November 9, 2008 | Category: Mobile Devices, Cell Phones, PDAs

Apple is now the world’s number-two smartphone manufacturer, according to a new Canalys study, which confirms that Apple’s popular iPhone device outsold Research In Motion’s entire BlackBerry franchise in the third quarter of this year.

Finland’s Nokia continued to lead the smartphone market in Q3 by a convincing market, but saw its lead erode somewhat with the global launch of the iPhone 3G, as well as the increasing popularity of Windows Mobile-powered devices from various manufacturers.

Nokia captured 38.9% of the global smartphone market, down from 52.9% in the fourth quarter of 2007, while Apple saw its market share rise to 17.3% (from 6.5%). Research In Motion remains a close third at 15.2%, followed by Motorola and HTC with 5.8% each.

As for short-term trends through the holiday shopping season, HTC is expected to gain ground as the T-Mobile G1 (manufactured by HTC and powered by Google Android) gains a following in the U.S. Research In Motion, meanwhile, is expected to make up for a relatively slow summer with the long-awaited launch of its BlackBerry Storm device.