China moves ahead of US in smartphone shipments

By Trevor Mogg November 23, 2011

China pushed ahead of the US for the first time in terms of the number of smartphone shipments, with a total of 23.9 million devices being delivered to operators in the country during the third quarter, compared to 23.3 million in the US.

Data from research firm Strategy Analytics showed that in China smartphone shipments increased by a sizable 58 percent over the previous quarter, whereas in the US they fell by 7 percent.

Strategy Analytics director Tom Kang pointed to the wider availability of smartphones in retail channels, aggressive subsidizing by providers of high-end phones such as Apple’s iPhone and the emergence of low-cost Android models as reasons for the rapid growth in China’s smartphone market.

Nokia currently enjoys the biggest share of the country’s smartphone market, with 29 percent of all sales in the third quarter, though both Samsung and Apple are threatening the Finnish company’s dominance.

If Apple can strike a deal with China Mobile, the largest carrier on the planet with more than 600 million subscribers, expect the Cupertino company to make significant inroads in the market. China Mobile and Apple are currently in talks over a possible deal.

In the meantime, China Telecom could release the iPhone 4S in the early part of next year, which would also boost Apple’s share of the market in the Asian country. China Unicom, the second biggest carrier in China, is currently the only iPhone carrier in the country.

Strategy Analytics executive director Neil Mawston commented on the company’s findings, saying, “China is now at the forefront of the worldwide mobile computing boom.”

He continued, “China has become a large and growing smartphone market that no hardware vendor, component maker or content developer can afford to ignore.”

[Source: Cnet, WSJ] [Image: Norebbo / Shutterstock]

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Web

Contributing Editor

Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

Mobile

The newest iPhone factory will not be in China

Man clicking a picture using the iPhone 12.

Thanks to the ever-increasing demand for its smartphones, Apple seems to be constantly on the lookout for new facilities to manufacture the iPhone. So far, most of this demand has been met by massive production facilities in China, where contract manufacturers like Foxconn and Pegatron churn out thousands of iPhones each day.

However, as the relationship between China and the U.S. has deteriorated over the years, Apple seems to be increasingly worried about putting most of its (manufacturing) eggs in the same basket. And it seems Apple and its manufacturing partners are increasingly looking at another country -- India -- as a potential iPhone manufacturing hub.

Mobile

The best fitness workout accessories for your smartphone

Athletic accessories feat image.

Athletes and civilians alike discovered early how mobile devices could serve as an essential tool for tracking and training. Smartphones assist in countless ways, from playing music to finding the best resources and locations to keep your workout interesting. But they don't always do this alone, and a huge industry has emerged around fitness accessories designed to work alongside your phone to help you achieve optimal results, but also to link, sync, and track data, and get feedback on your performance. Of the many smartphone compatible health and fitness accessories out there, we've pulled together a list of some of the highest-quality devices to help you achieve your fitness goals.
Apple Watch

If you're looking for the best fitness accessory for your iPhone, look no further than the Apple Watch 6 (or Series 5, or SE). As a fitness companion, it has no equal, and even older models of the watch provide all the necessary tools and resources to keep you fit. Health related features include ECG, fall detection, activity tracking, and heart rate alerts. Of course, it also lets you make or take calls, send messages, navigate through your playlists, and stream Apple Music directly from your wrist. The Apple Watch is a great activity tracker with activity rings and data that are easy to interpret and can motivate anyone working to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Mobile

How to tell if your smartphone battery needs to be replaced

iPhone battery settings

Nothing lasts forever -- especially not smartphone batteries. Those tiny lithium-ion powerhouses that run your iPhone or Android phone are all consumables, which means they have a limited life span. The longer you hang on to your device, the more your battery will degrade, and eventually, it will have to be replaced.

Smartphone batteries don't usually just conk out. There are telltale hints over time, mostly relating to your phone's performance. You may notice that the device is slow to respond to taps and prompts or that apps take longer to launch or respond to commands. Or, perhaps your phone drains more rapidly than in the past, is slower to power up, never powers up to 100%, shuts down unexpectedly under normal conditions, or will not run unless it is plugged into the charger. Other more ominous signs include the phone heating up while charging or feeling thicker (perhaps the result of a ruptured battery), or perhaps there are no signs of life no matter what you do. Any of these circumstances can signal a failing, dead, or even hazardous battery.