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While the technology world continues to focus on Apple’s yet-to-be-launched iPad, it seems iPhone sales may be slowing. Apple lost market share in the global smartphone market in the fourth quarter, ABI Research reports.<\/p>\n
\nApple’s share fell from 18.1 percent in the third quarter to 16.6 percent in the fourth quarter, according to ABI’s data. This comes despite the fact that Apple posted record iPhone sales for the quarter of 8.7 million units, up 100 percent from the year-ago quarter and up 18 percent from the third quarter.<\/p>\n
\n“2009 may have started with a whimper, but by the fourth quarter of 2009 the global mobile handset market ended with a pretty reasonable bang,” said Jake Saunders, vice president for forecasting at ABI. “We estimate 336.5 million handsets were shipped in the fourth quarter of 2009, up 15.1 percent quarter over quarter.”<\/p>\n
Nokia vs Apple<\/p>\n
\nDespite market leader Nokia’s weakened position in the smartphone segment, ABI said the company still managed to maintain 37.7 percent of the overall handset market. Korea’s influence on the handset market is underscored by LG Electronics and Samsung. With 10 percent of the market, LG ranks behind Apple. LG has been counting on its S-class smartphone series to help it secure a bridgehead in the market, ABI said.<\/p>\n
\nNokia has another advantage over Apple. While Apple’s App Store is still the most popular worldwide, Nokia’s Ovi Store has overtaken Apple in crucial high-growth emerging markets in Asia-Pacific and Latin America, according to the newly released Wireless Development Survey from Research and Markets. Microsoft’s Windows Marketplace for Mobile and apps sold directly through a carrier were also popular channels. <\/p>\n
\n“The app-store model is now an expected part of any wireless developer program,” said Janel Garvin, CEO of Evans Data. “And while Apple’s iPhone App Store set the pace in North America and… <\/p>\n
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