Global mobile handset sales up by 6.1 per cent to 427.4 million

The worldwide mobile phone market grew by 6.1 per cent year-on-year in the fourth quarter to 427.4 million units, according to research by IDC, the golbal market intelligence firm.
The growth was higher than IDC's forecast of 4.4 per cent for the quarter but weaker than the 9.3 per cent growth in the third quarter. Although the introduction of high-growth products like iPhone 4S, which shipped in the fourth quarter of 2011, bolstered smartphone growth, the quarter still showed 'unusually' low growth, the lowest since the third quarter of 2009, due to the weaker macroeconomic conditions worldwide.
Smartphones continued to grow in popularity but feature phones still made up the majority of all mobile phone shipments. Feature phones are still fighting to retain their market share and adding mobile internet and third-party applications, the IDC noted, saying this could slow down the rate at which smartphones are selected over feature phones.
Western Europe was hardest hit, impacted by lower demand.Still, Central Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMA) markets showed strong double-digit growth due mainly to Samsung's continued strength in the regions. In Japan, pent-up demand for mobile phones after last year's natural disasters and weaker economy meant unusually high growth.
Nokia remained the undisputed lead of total mobile phone shipments in the quarter, with a market share at 26.6 per cent, down from 30.7 per cent the year before.Samsung reached new record levels, breaking the 90 million unit mark for the first time in a single quarter, and breaking the 300 million mark for the first time in a single year. The manufacturer had a market share in the fourth quarter at 22.8 per cent, up from last year's 20.0 per cent.
Apple grabbed the third spot with a market share at 8.7 per cent, up from four per cent year-on-year, with LG bringing up the fourth with a 4.1 per cent market share, down from 7.6 per cent the year earlier. ZTE was in fifth place, with a four per cent share, versus 3.9 per cent the year before.