Apple Needs New Varieties
However, despite profits falling for the first time in a decade for Apple, the Cupertino based company posted better than expected iPhone sales at around 37.4 million, a 7% growth compared to Q1 2012.
With another product cycle due to be released soon Apple needs to innovate, with the next product release being critical in maintaining their position as innovation leaders. Apple will also need to ensure that they are attractive to emerging markets to retain their title as global brand leaders.
The Second Battle for Market Share
LG posted its highest ever smartphones sales quarter, shipping 10.3 million in Q1 2013, driven by sales of the Optimus G and Nexus 4. The company improved its smartphone market share from last quarter to reach just over 5%.
Huawei, which previously posted impressive sales in 2012 with the introduction of a range of new smartphones and tablets, shipped an estimated 10 million smartphones. The company along with ZTE accounted for approximately 10% of the shipments market.
Nokia shipped 6.1 million smart devices in the fourth quarter and posted higher Lumia sales of 5.6 million compared to the previous quarter, a 27% rise. BlackBerry’s (previously RIM) recent results – which run to a different financial schedule – are expected to account for almost 6 million smartphone shipments for Q1 2013. The Canadian company sold 1 million new BlackBerry 10 devices.
Despite a positive start, the BlackBerry and Nokia ecosystem will indeed need some more time to grow and drive further competition and innovation within the smartphone and OS marketplace.