Samsung to Surpass Nokia as Biggest Cellphone Manufacturer, Extends Lead on Apple

Samsung is set to displace Nokia as the world's largest manufacturer of cellphones and extend its smartphone lead over Apple in 2012, reports iSuppli.

Samsung is expected to account for 29 percent of worldwide cellphone shipments, up from 24 percent in 2011, according to the IHS iSuppli Mobile and Wireless Communications Service at information and analytics provider IHS (NYSE: IHS). Nokia’s share this year will drop to 24 percent, down from 30 percent last year, as presented in Table 1.

A dislodged Nokia will cause Samsung to rise to first place for the full year of 2012, up from the second rank in 2011, the first time the South Korean electronics titan will occupy the top on a yearly basis. Nokia will fall to the runner-up spot, the first time since 1998 it won’t be in peak position for overall cellphone shipments during a full calendar year.

Notably, Samsung is also pulling ahead of Apple in the smartphone category. Last year, the company only had a one percentage point lead over Apple; however, by the end of the 2012 it is estimated to have extended its lead to 8%.

The two companies combined represent 49% of shipments in 2012. That's up from 39% in 2011.

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