Various statistical and market studies today come to the same conclusion, The smartphone market has shrunk to two players, manufacturers of smartphones on IOS and Android platforms (namely, Apple and Samsung). Famous manufacturers RIM and Nokia have been ousted, their market share is seriously declining.
It's safe to say that five years after the iPhone hit the market, RIM and Nokia are struggling to survive, and it is quite possible that their existence is nearing the end. Meanwhile, in the smartphone market today, only four companies are making a profit.
According to the latest research by the analytical company VisionMobile, the state of affairs in the smartphone market has changed dramatically over the past 12 months. The research results are shown in the diagrams presented.
As you can see in the first quarter of 2012, Apple managed to get the main profit from the entire smartphone market. In terms of profit, only Samsung can match it. The profit margins of Motorola Mobility (a subsidiary of Google) and HTC are barely visible on the chart (recent months have not been so successful).
Surprisingly, of all the manufacturers, only Apple, Samsung, Motorola and HTC are making real profits from smartphone sales. All other companies operate at a loss, among them the Swedish-Japanese company that produces the Sony Ericsson phones of the same name and the legendary Finnish manufacturer Nokia.
That is why the "losers" have to brag about other indicators: HTC - market share, Nokia - sales.
However, investors and shareholders are only interested in one indicator: and that is profit. What is the use of millions of units sold (in the case of Motorola) if the profit margins are negligible.
Many are looking to overtake Apple in terms of sales. But, despite a modest share, according to various studies at 20-25% of the total market, the company reaps the main benefits and takes a huge chunk of profits.
The question arises: how quickly Nokia and RIM, two of the world's leading phone manufacturers, will declare bankruptcy or sell their assets.
Microsoft and Nokia?
According to Nomura analysts, the Finnish phone maker is expected to sell 34 million units for Windows in 2012, which is only 59% of the plan.
BlackBerry 10 OS?
The new version of the operating system and the device based on it will not be able to save RIM.
Everything is very simple: both Nokia and RIM are in a very difficult position, neither the one nor the other company has a finished product that could significantly affect the fate of the companies.
According to British newspaper The Sunday Times, RIM plans to split its BlackBerry phone business and messaging network into two separate companies and sell the troubled BlackBerry. The source names Facebook and Amazon among potential buyers.
Surprisingly, at the same time, high consumer demand for iPhone and iPad allowed Apple to increase the number of employees in its retail sales network to 35,852 jobs in 5 years.
Still, I think many are convinced that competition in the smartphone market must continue. New innovative products are the result of competition.
