Samsung overtakes Nokia to be top mobile company

For the first time ever, Samsung has overtaken Nokia to become the world's biggest mobile phone company.

The Korean company is expected to account for 29 percent of all mobiles shipped globally in 2012, up from 24 percent in 2011. Nokia has slipped from 30 percent last year to 24 percent in 2012. These stats are from analysts IHS.

Apple is in third place, with 10 percent of all global shipments. ZTE is fourth with 6 percent, and LG fifth with 4 percent.

Samsung has been helped by the huge success of its Galaxy S3 smartphone, which has sold over 30 million units. The Galaxy Note and Note 2 - mocked by many for their large size - have also seen impressive sales, prompting a slew of competitor products.

Year of the smartphone

Analysts said 2012 was the year of the smartphone. "The competitive nature of the cellphone market in 2012 was 'live by the smartphone; die by the smartphone,'" said Wayne Lam, senior analyst for wireless communications at IHS. "Smartphones represent the fastest-growing segment of the cellphone market - and will account for nearly half of all wireless handset shipments for all of 2012.

"Samsung's successes and Nokia's struggles in the cellphone market this year were determined entirely by the two companies' divergent fortunes in the smartphone sector."

Global smartphone shipments are expected to rise by 35.5 percent this year. Smartphones should account for 47 percent of all handsets shipped, up from 35 percent in 2011, according to IHS.

Via SlashGear