HTC, RIM, Sony and Motorola to follow Apple's blueprint with fewer releases each year

Citing its industry sources in Taiwan, DigiTimes says that four major smartphone manufacturers plan on cutting back on the number of new models produced every year. HTC, Motorola, Sony and RIM are trying to follow Apple's game plan as the latter brings on only one new version of its Apple iPhone to the market each year.

Just the other day, we told you that Motorola Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha announced that the company would be cutting back on phone releases in 2012, concentrating on marketing instead. DigiTimes' sources said that the four smartphone manufacturers will be focusing on "designated models" instead of flooding the market with a seemingly never-ending supply of phones.

Concentrating on the Apple iPhone 4S, an incremental update from the prior year's Apple iPhone 4, estimates are that Apple sold a record 30 million units of its phone in just the fourth calendar quarter of 2011. Apple's share of smartphone sales in the U.S. went from 26% in the third quarter to 43% in October and November, according to one report. That period covers the launch of the Apple iPhone 4S.

Ironically, considering that Apple and Samsung have been at each other's throats in court with Apple charging that Samsung has been copying its designs, DigiTimes noted that Samsung had been following Apple by focusing on one flagship model each year. The Korean based manufacturer has struck gold with the Samsung Galaxy S II and a sequel is expected to be introduced later this year. 10 million units of the Samsung Galaxy S II were sold in the first 6 months while Samsung is believed to have sold a company record 32 million smartphones in Q4.

source: DigiTimes