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Report: Windows Phone has 104% year-over-year growth in fourth quarter

posted by Alan F. / Jan 31, 2014, 11:27 PM

Report: Windows Phone has 104% year-over-year growth in fourth quarter

The latest data from ABI Research shows that 10.9 million Windows Phone handsets were shipped worldwide in the fourth quarter, a 104% gain from the 5.3 million shipped in the 2012 fourth quarter. That was a gain of 19% sequentially from the third quarter of 2013. Despite the huge gain in shipments, Windows Phone still makes up just 4% of the global smartphone market.

Android models (including forked versions of the OS) shipped 221.5 million units in the period from October through December, to lead the way with a 77% share of the smartphone market in the period. Year-over-year, Android's growth amounted to 50%. On a sequential basis, that is growth of 20%. The 221.5 million Android units shipped included 71.1 million units of devices powered by a forked (non-Google) version of the OS, used on low priced phones offered in China. Those phones represented 25% of the global smartphone market while the Google Services version of Android captured 52%.

"Apple continues to avoid a low cost smartphone product to target these markets, focusing instead on its traditional premium segment, where growth is harder to achieve due to fast approaching market saturation."-Nick Spencer, senior practice director, mobile devices, ABI Research

Apple's iOS shipped 51 million units in the period to control 18% of the worldwide smartphone market. That works out to a 7% gain year over year and a strong 51% gain sequentially. BlackBerry 10 shipped only1.1 million units in the fourth quarter while the older BlackBerry OS 7 powered 4.2 million phones that were shipped during the three months. Shocking was the 42% quarter-on-quarter growth for the older BlackBerry OS.

Windows Phone doubled the number of units it shipped year over year in Q4

source: ABIResearch via WPCentral

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39 Comments

1. xperiaDROID

Posts: 5629; Member since: Mar 08, 2013

Why Windows Phone is growing? That's because of Nokia Lumia, people buy Windows Phone because of Nokia. Try changing the brand to Microsoft as Microsoft Lumia, you will see Windows Phone go down, just like the elevator say: "GOING DOWN...".

posted on Jan 31, 2014, 11:48 PM 24

2. Nimay_7

Posts: 26; Member since: Dec 04, 2013

Lol!!

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 12:06 AM 5

31. sgodsell

Posts: 7451; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

Something is wrong when Nokia sold 8.9 million lumias in Q3 2013, and then sold 8.2 million lumias for Q4 2013. Thats with lumias with sales pricing during the holiday season. Not to mention reports saying over Nokia sells around 92% of all WP devices.

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 5:56 PM 0

3. AppleHateBoy unregistered

I think the reason for WP8's growth is inexpensive Lumias, but your thinking is correct too.

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 12:11 AM 18

5. ihavenoname

Posts: 1693; Member since: Aug 18, 2013

One word: 520. Inexpensive, made by Nokia, low end device which doesn't suck, and it's really great device. I've tried one and yeah, it's bit hollow, not very ergonomic and screen is nah, but unlike same priced devices, it works, and is well made and most of all, it can do the same things that expensive Lumias can, without a lag.

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 12:28 AM 12

4. NokiaFTW

Posts: 2072; Member since: Oct 24, 2012

I think thats why Microsoft shouldn't drop the Nokia name on its new Lumias.

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 12:23 AM 4

6. ihavenoname

Posts: 1693; Member since: Aug 18, 2013

They shouldn't, and they probably won't in a long time, but at some point, they have to. Note that real Nokia is still in Finland, it is networking company now on, and after selling phone part away, they are now profitable.

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 12:33 AM 0

27. nokia12

Posts: 610; Member since: Nov 19, 2013

they will have to they can only use nokia name for devices launched before acuqisition.. so the devices that will be unveiled at MWC will be last .. after that Microsoft Lumia.. and sales Will begin to drop..

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 2:13 PM 0

29. rodneyej1

Posts: 3576; Member since: Jul 06, 2013

That's not changing.. Lumia hardware will still be developed in Finland.. Nothings changing except it will be called a Lumia device not a Nokia Lumia device.. it will not be called a Microsoft Lumia..

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 4:32 PM 0

9. AhmadAlsayegh

Posts: 326; Member since: Jul 18, 2011

remember, MSFT bought Lumia and Asha brands, not Nokia...As for Nokia as a name still belongs to Nokia

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 1:46 AM 1

13. aksa123

Posts: 367; Member since: Jan 30, 2014

Yep, the name 'Nokia' itself is a selling point.

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 4:34 AM 0

10. theminolaboy

Posts: 128; Member since: May 18, 2013

I believe that removing the 'Nokia' branding will really affect people's perspective about Windows Phones. Lenovo retained IBM's ThinkPad and now, they will do that again for Motorola. It will only show how selfish Microsoft is if they will remove Nokia's name on their future Windows Phones. On the other hand, I can feel that Nokia will be back in the game in 2016. Making an Android phone even without proper launching (I doubt MSFT will allow Normandy to see the light of the day) is still something that Android-Nokia fans should never overlook. Research alone cost a lot of money and Nokia is not dumb to put a forked version of Android in their handset then throw it out of the window afterwards. This is the reason why MSFT will no longer use Nokia on their future Windows Phones. If Nokia will be successful in the Android arena, MSFT will became their competitor in 2016 going forward. Keep in mind that Nokia still owns their patents and they can just license Pureview to any other Android manufacturer out there or use it on their own if something came up. Unless MSFT talks to Nokia about a long-term agreement, Nokia is free to allow even Samsung to use their Pureview tech.

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 2:00 AM 3

36. pookiewood

Posts: 631; Member since: Mar 05, 2012

Its not selfishness. They CAN'T use the Nokia name. They have to stick with Lumia.

posted on Feb 02, 2014, 2:40 AM 0

11. aksa123

Posts: 367; Member since: Jan 30, 2014

Maybe that's true, but wp8 is not that bad tho. MS also promised to support wp8 'til 2016, so wp8 is a very future proof os. Still, wp growth = MS 30% + Nokia 70% lol.

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 2:18 AM 1

15. djcody

Posts: 228; Member since: Apr 17, 2013

And you believe what MS say??

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 7:52 AM 3

21. papss unregistered

As much as any big business I suppose. I'm sure you feel cool now that you jabbed at M$ but the consumers as a whole speak louder that you and considering how much revenue M$ raked in last year they could care less if you believe them or not.

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 10:14 AM 0

37. pookiewood

Posts: 631; Member since: Mar 05, 2012

Windows XP........

posted on Feb 02, 2014, 2:41 AM 0

14. rf1975

Posts: 264; Member since: Aug 01, 2011

Partly true. But I have a HTC 8X, an amazing phone. With dual core, still fluid. Better than S4. Windows phone has lot of potential. Windws Tabs will rule the market in near future.

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 4:53 AM 2

16. akki20892

Posts: 3902; Member since: Feb 04, 2013

Why nokia device and service sold if wp is growing. Nokia when you will come in war land. Nokia......long live king.

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 8:20 AM 3

23. Liveitup

Posts: 1798; Member since: Jan 07, 2014

That is one of the silliest reasons ive ever heard, that is like saying the only reason Android is growing because of Samsung. Both Android and iOS is copying WP flat UI, look at consumers feedback they love the OS. Next time I suggest you look at actual facts instead of making silly assumptions.

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 10:53 AM 2

35. aksa123

Posts: 367; Member since: Jan 30, 2014

Then why does Nokia own 93% wp8 marketshare?? Because Nokia has better overall qualities. Especially camera and software support.

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 8:57 PM 0

40. Liveitup

Posts: 1798; Member since: Jan 07, 2014

Samsung sells the majority of Android devices, whats your point. I chose WP not because of Nokia but because of the clean beautiful looking OS.

posted on Feb 02, 2014, 8:35 AM 0

24. Tommy1960i

Posts: 144; Member since: Oct 11, 2013

There are many people in Europe that are buying Nokia because it was the best mobile brand for a very long time and after a pause of a couple of years of android and iOS, many want to feel their childhood with Nokia once again, especially in Europe (Finland is Nokia's home and will be forever)

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 11:55 AM 1

28. rodneyej1

Posts: 3576; Member since: Jul 06, 2013

Who cares why it's growing.. The fact is that it's growing.. Quit panicking on every WP related article..

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 4:30 PM 0

7. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

Why is the BBOS 7 growth compared to BBOS 10 growth shocking? The handsets that run BBOS 7 are selling for less than the handsets that run BBOS 10, and cost matters it would seem. And then there is the issue of BBOS 10 UI being a perfidious lash-up. Given a choice between a less expensive handset with an OS that is easier to use, it should be no surprise which OS BB consumers are choosing. As a former BBOS (my last BB was a Bold 9000) user, I was completely under-whelmed when BBOS 10 was released, so the sales growth of BBOS 7 vs. 10 is no surprise to me.

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 12:55 AM 0

18. rihel_95

Posts: 305; Member since: Mar 21, 2012

Question is that for how long Google will ignore WP and stop making apps for it!

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 9:03 AM 0

19. NokiaFTW

Posts: 2072; Member since: Oct 24, 2012

I don't understand why WP users want Google apps on WP. Why would you purchase a WP if your invested in Google's services ? One of the main reason of purchasing a WP is that your into Microsoft's ecosystem. Still, its high time Google bring their services to WP for those users who are invested in Google's ecosystem.

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 9:43 AM 4

22. papss unregistered

I agree.. I've backed out of every google service other than the occasional YouTube.

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 10:16 AM 2

25. thealphageek1

Posts: 942; Member since: Feb 02, 2013

I agree as well. Microsofts ecosystem is just as robust as Googles. I don't even use Google services anymore.

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 1:51 PM 1

32. rodneyej1

Posts: 3576; Member since: Jul 06, 2013

I only use YouTube on WP... The best YouTube,, MetroTube.... Other than that MS has the user covered with better, more quality, and nicer to look at services than Google services...

posted on Feb 01, 2014, 6:26 PM 1

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