For the first time ever, smartphones have outshipped feature phones over the course of a quarter, at least if IDC data released earlier this week is to be believed.
Overall, the mobile phone market grew 4 percent year-over-year for the Q1 2013 to 418.6 million units. The quarter is seasonably slow following the holiday hangover and a usually slow product release period.
Vendors shipped 216.2 million smartphones during the quarter, good for 51.6 percent share. Samsung and Apple remain the undisputed leaders.
"Phone users want computers in their pockets. The days where phones are used primarily to make phone calls and send text messages are quickly fading away," said Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst with IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. "As a result, the balance of smartphone power has shifted to phone makers that are most dependent on smartphones."
The top smartphone OEMs:
Vendors shipped 216.2 million smartphones during the quarter, good for 51.6 percent share. Samsung and Apple remain the undisputed leaders.
"Phone users want computers in their pockets. The days where phones are used primarily to make phone calls and send text messages are quickly fading away," said Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst with IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. "As a result, the balance of smartphone power has shifted to phone makers that are most dependent on smartphones."
The top smartphone OEMs:
