Most handset makers are struggling these days. According to ABI Research‘s senior analyst Michael Morgan, global handset shipments decreased YoY for the second consecutive quarter, depicting the global economic crisis of 2008-2009.
Even Apple experienced a 26% QoQ decline in Q2 shipments as consumers withheld purchasing an iPhone in anticipation of the new model to be released in late Q3. RIM and Nokia smartphone shipments declined 14% and 30% QoQ respectively as both companies are in the midst of transition to new operating systems.
Samsung, however, had completely different numbers. In the second quarter, the Korean giant was able to offset a 13% decline in feature phone shipments with a 16% increase in smartphone shipments. This prompted ABI’s senior practice director Jeff Orr to conclude: “It is becoming increasingly apparent that Samsung, not Apple, will be the OEM who will bring mobile computing to the masses over the near to mid-term.”
And while we keep admiring both Samsung and Apple for their great results, we do want to see few other handset makers joining the party, too. At the end, if we’re stuck with just a few players, the game gets less competitive and that’s never a good thing…