China smartphone shipments surged 58% quarter-to-quarter in 3Q to reach a record 24 million units, vaulting over the US to become the world’s largest smartphone market, according to research from Strategy Analytics’ analyst Linda Sui. (LINK: http://www.strategyanalytics.com/default.aspx?mod=reportabstractviewer&a0=6871) Multinational and local brands’ bolstering smartphone models, heavy subsidization driving down retail prices and carriers’ aggressive 3G data plan promotions drove growth in 3Q, according to Sui.
Nokia, in handsets, and Symbian, in mobile operating systems, are market leaders in China, while Samsung, Apple, ZTE, Huawei and HTC “are upping their game with high-end and low-end models,” Sui wrote in a research note.
Nokia shipped 6.8 million smartphones in 3Q. Samsung ranked second, having shipped 4.2 million units. Taken together, the two accounted for 46.1% of the China market.
Mobile connections in China are forecast to exceed 1 billion come May next year, while mobile penetration will reach 74%, according to a GigaOm report. (LINK: http://gigaom.com/broadband/china-mobile-phone-subscriptions/?utm_medium=content&utm_campaign=syndication&utm_source=cnn&utm_content=more-smartphones-now-sold-in-china-than-in-u-s_443823) That compares to some 303 million in the US.
China and India were already the world’s largest mobile markets when measured by mobile connections, according to Wireless Intelligence. The market research firm forecasts that ongoing growth in the two countries’ mobile telecoms markets will drive mobile connections to a “landmark 3 billion” in 1Q 2012 and 4.1 billion by 2015.
The U.S. can no longer claim the throne of smartphone supremacy. That honor now belongs to China, where smartphone shipments surged 58% quarter-to-quarter in 3Q11 to reach a record 24 million units, vaulting over the U.S. to become the world’s largest smartphone market, according to research from Strategy Analytics.
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