Total of 1.7 Billion Mobile Phones Shipped Worldwide in 2013

There have been a few reports out this week tallying the total number of shipments of various products and devices. The latest one to come across my desk is from Strategy Analytics. This report concerns the total number of mobile phone shipments for 2013.

According to Strategy Analytics, we have been seeing a steady five percent growth in annual mobile phone shipments. The end of 2013 saw this number reach 1.7 billion units shipped. 2013 also marks the first time that smartphone shipments exceeded one billion units shipped. That information comes to us from IDC.

Some of the findings of Strategy Analytics’ report include;

• LG was the world's fourth largest mobile phone vendor in 2013, capturing 4 percent market share. LG's Optimus range of Android models is proving popular in Europe and elsewhere
• TCL-Alcatel, of China, grew 48 percent annually to ship 18.3 million units globally in Q4 2013 and became the world's fifth largest mobile phone vendor for the first time ever during the quarter. A portfolio of low-cost smartphones and feature phones in Latin America and Europe is driving the growth.

It looks as if the insurgence of low-cost smartphones and feature phones has a lot to do with shipments reaching and exceeding the one billion mark. There has also been greater penetration in emerging regions. In many cases you need a smartphone to stay connected since a cellular connection is the only one that exists.

The following chart gives you a breakdown of the global mobile phone vendor shipments and market share:

Source: Strategy Analytics

Speaking about Apple, Ken Hyers, senior analyst at Strategy Analytics, added, "Apple shipped a record 153.4 million mobile phones worldwide in 2013, up from 135.8 million in 2012. However, Apple's growth rate moderated from 46 percent in 2012 to just 13 percent during 2013. Apple's lack of presence in the low-end smartphone segment and the big-screen phablet category are costing the firm sizeable volumes."Linda Sui, senior analyst at Strategy Analytics, said, "Despite ongoing economic headwinds in Asia and other emerging markets, global mobile phone shipments managed to grow a respectable 5 percent annually from 1.6 billion units in 2012 to 1.7 billion in 2013. It was the industry's strongest overall performance for two years. Fuelled by robust demand for its popular Galaxy models, Samsung tightened its grip, shipping a record 451.7 million mobile phones worldwide and capturing 27 percent market share to solidify its first-place lead. If Samsung maintains its current growth rate, it could ship a half-billion mobile phones in 2014."

Neil Mawston, executive director at Strategy Analytics, followed Linda’s comments by saying, "Nokia's global mobile phone shipments fell 25 percent from 335.6 million units in 2012 to 252.4 million in 2013. Nokia faced tough competition from Samsung in developing markets like India, while LG and others ramped up the pressure in developed regions such as Western Europe. Nokia's Windows Phones have been performing relatively well, but this was not enough to offset sluggish demand for its Asha models and other feature phones during the course of the year."