Huawei has overtaken Microsoft as the world’s third largest mobile phone vendor, according to research firm Strategy Analytics.Strategy figures reveal Microsoft’s mobile market share plummeted in the 2015 second quarter from 11.8 per cent to 6.4 per cent year-on-year, with Microsoft’s 27.8 million units shipped during the quarter down from 50.3 million.
Neil Mawston, Strategy executive director, noted that market share for Microsoft, which last year completed its takeover of Nokia’s phone business, is “sitting near an all-time low”.
“Microsoft continues to lose ground in feature phones, while its Lumia smartphone portfolio is in a holding pattern, awaiting the launch of new Windows 10 models later this year,” Mawston commented.
Meanwhile, Huawei captured a record 7 per cent market share, up from 4.8 per cent year-on-year, shipping 30.6 million units, up from 20.6 million.
In total, mobile phone shipments grew 2 per cent annually to reach 435 million units in the quarter, with Samsung and Apple claiming the top two positions, respectively.
Samsung claimed a 20.5 per cent market share, down from 22.3 per cent year-on-year, shipping 89 million units, down from 95.3 million, with Apple capturing 10.9 per cent of the market, up from 8.2 per cent, and shipping 47.5 million units, up from 35.2 million.
“Samsung has stabilised volumes in the high-end, but its lower-tier mobile phones continue to face intense competition from rivals such as Huawei in Asia,” Mawston commented.
“Apple grew 35 per cent annually and shipped 47.5 million mobile phones for 11 per cent worldwide market share in Q2 2015. Apple outperformed as consumers in China and elsewhere upgraded to bigger-screen iPhone 6 and 6 Plus models.”
Xiaomi rounded out the top five, capturing a 4.6 per cent market share, up from 3.5 per cent year-on-year, shipping 19.8 million units, up from 15.1 million.
