Apple gets into the list of top five handset makers for the first time

For the first time, Apple made it to the list of top five phone makers of the world in the third quarter of 2010. According the latest report of famous research firm IDC, growth in the smartphone segment will be the main force of the worldwide mobile phone market by the end of 2014. Here is the top five list:

Source: Tom's Guide

After Research In Motion (RIM), Apple is the second smartphone only company to make it to the top five list. Though RIM’s condition is not as impressive as Apple, it did pretty well. In the third quarter, RIM posted record number of unit shipments and its market share increased to 3.6 percent in Q3 2010 from 2.9 percent in Q3 2009.

Apple’s market position further improved after news came out that it is going to launch a CDMA version of its popular iPhone.

Kevin Restivo, Senior Research Analyst, IDC Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker said that the entrance of Apple on the list of top five mobile-phone vendors of the world shows the “increased importance” of smartphone. He also said that mobile handset makers that are delivering the popular smartphone models are observing the fastest growth in the industry and those who does not have a strong portfolio of smartphones will face serious challenge in future.

Restivo further said that the smartphone is becoming the focal point of the personal communications experience and this is why it would fuel new market growth. This year, IDC expects the smartphone sub-market to grow 55 percent on year-over-year basis.

Related article:

Digital Trends