IMS Research Says Global Smartphones Sales Will Top 420 Million Devices in 2011

According to IMS Research, a leading independent supplier of market research, sales of smartphones will come in at over 420 million device by the end of this year .  This will account for roughly 28 percent of the handset market as the research shows.  According to the company, with the release of more and more “entry-level” smartphones, we could see one billion devices sell by 2016.

According to IMS, despite how well mobile sales are going, not all companies will ultimately benefit from the trend.  IMS uses LG as an example, pointing to the fact that though they were the third largest OEM world wide, they barely exhibited any innovation over the past several years, subsequently causing the company to reach less than three percent of the market share in 2010.

The same source also notes that Nokia took a hit so devastating (see chart) they went to bed with Microsoft for its Windows Phone operating system, abandoning its very own Symbian platform.  Sales for the company dropped 34 percent from last year.

  

In contrast to the above, the research firm goes on to note that Apple, in the midst of other companies on the decline, has benefited greatly during this time in the face of its competitors.  No doubt its popularity is due to its innovation and the functionality of a certain product’s name that escapes my mind at the moment.  But don’t worry, it will eventually come to me.  During the company’s second quarter in 2011 sales soared for more than 20 million handsets with signs only pointing to even greater success in the near future.  In addition, Samsung is also following in the foot steps of the Great Apple. demonstrating it too can play with the big boys in the midst of adversity.  The company increased sales from three percent in 1Q of 2010 to a whopping 13 percent in 1Q of 2011 thanks to its innovative handsets touting Android, Windows Mobile and its very own Bada operating system.  Add this to its impressive line of Galaxy S phones and it’s no wonder the company is on top at the moment.

The moral of the story is, stay ahead of the game when it comes to innovation and growth.  With strategic planning and  the right individuals in place, any company can thrust forward and be successful in the midst of a mobile market decline.  Any business man will tell you, innovation and meeting the needs of the consumer is the name of the game.

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