Apple winning smartphone

Nokia will be banking on its flagship N8 to claw back market share in Q4, however the rapidly growing range of available Android smartphones pose a real threat to the telco, according to the report.

HTC saw a strong increase in shipments in Q3, with market share soaring to 8.9% to take third place in the smartphone market, up from fifth place in Q2.


Android-powered smartphones also saw very strong growth in Q3, collectively accounting for 21% of the smartphone market, up from 7.1% in Q2 and only 2.1% in Q1.

Mark Novosel, market analyst, telecommunications at IDC, said: "Nokia has remained at the top of the smartphone market since 2002, when it unseated Palm to become the highest selling smartphone vendor in Australia. Nokia's dominance was seemingly unstoppable, however three years after launching, Apple has done what once seemed impossible.

"2011 will be a critical year in the Australian market, Android will continue its strong upward trend, with Apple's iOS leading the charge. Nokia must fast-track the development of its high-end Meego-powered smartphones, in order to regain market share and avoid being overtaken by Android.”