The worldwide mobile phone market grew 6.0 percent year over year in the second quarter of 2013 (2Q13). According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), vendors shipped a total of 432.1 million mobile phones in 2Q13 compared to 407.7 million units in the second quarter of 2012.
The 2Q13 total was also slightly higher than the 428.8 million units shipped in the first quarter of 2013.
The growth in the mobile phone market was partly driven by vendors from outside the top five, who experienced torrid shipment growth that outpaced the overall market.
Several vendors had high double- and triple-digit growth rates in the second quarter for their Android-based offerings shipped to high-growth countries such as China and India.
In 2Q13, these vendors from outside the Top 5 accounted for 44.8 percent of the overall shipment volume, up from 42.2 percent in the same quarter one year ago.
In the worldwide smartphone market, vendors shipped 237.9 million units in 2Q13 compared to the 156.2 million units shipped in 2Q12.
This represents 52.3 percent year-over-year-growth, the highest annual growth rate in five quarters. Second quarter shipments were up 10.0 percent when compared to the 216.3 million units shipped in 1Q13.
"The smartphone market is still a rising tide that's lifting many ships," said Kevin Restivo, Senior research analyst with IDC. "Though Samsung and Apple are the dominant players, the market is as fragmented as ever. There is ample opportunity for smartphone vendors with differentiated offerings."
Market opportunities exist at all levels, including the high end.
While Samsung and Apple accounted for significant share of the overall market, they were not the only vendors active in the high end of the market, and recent device introductions and upcoming launches signal more vendors targeting this space.
Comparisons will certainly be made to the flagship Galaxy and iPhone models, but clearly the competition refuses to be shut out altogether.
The opposite end of the spectrum is just as, if not more, interesting. Lower-priced smartphones continue to gain traction, but the key for vendors will be to keep prices low while still offering premium devices and services.
IDC fully expects to see large-screen smartphones and other flagship devices establish a presence within the lower-priced smartphone segment as well.
The 2Q13 total was also slightly higher than the 428.8 million units shipped in the first quarter of 2013.
The growth in the mobile phone market was partly driven by vendors from outside the top five, who experienced torrid shipment growth that outpaced the overall market.
Several vendors had high double- and triple-digit growth rates in the second quarter for their Android-based offerings shipped to high-growth countries such as China and India.
In 2Q13, these vendors from outside the Top 5 accounted for 44.8 percent of the overall shipment volume, up from 42.2 percent in the same quarter one year ago.
In the worldwide smartphone market, vendors shipped 237.9 million units in 2Q13 compared to the 156.2 million units shipped in 2Q12.
This represents 52.3 percent year-over-year-growth, the highest annual growth rate in five quarters. Second quarter shipments were up 10.0 percent when compared to the 216.3 million units shipped in 1Q13.
"The smartphone market is still a rising tide that's lifting many ships," said Kevin Restivo, Senior research analyst with IDC. "Though Samsung and Apple are the dominant players, the market is as fragmented as ever. There is ample opportunity for smartphone vendors with differentiated offerings."
Market opportunities exist at all levels, including the high end.
While Samsung and Apple accounted for significant share of the overall market, they were not the only vendors active in the high end of the market, and recent device introductions and upcoming launches signal more vendors targeting this space.
Comparisons will certainly be made to the flagship Galaxy and iPhone models, but clearly the competition refuses to be shut out altogether.
The opposite end of the spectrum is just as, if not more, interesting. Lower-priced smartphones continue to gain traction, but the key for vendors will be to keep prices low while still offering premium devices and services.
IDC fully expects to see large-screen smartphones and other flagship devices establish a presence within the lower-priced smartphone segment as well.