Samsung Overtakes Motorola as Top U.S. Mobile Phone Vendor

Samsung has unseated Motorola (MOT) from its throne as the leading mobile phone vendor in the U.S.  In the third quarter, Samsung led with 22.4 percent of mobile phones in the U.S. while Motorola carried 21.1 percent, down from 32.7 percent a year ago. LG Electronics was in the third slot with 20.5 percent of the market. Nokia (NOK) is the leading cell phone vendor globally, with a worldwide market share of 38 percent. In the U.S., Nokia has about 8.4 percent, a decline from last year.

Motorola, which had been the leading vendor since 2004, is heading into 2009 with a dark cloud over its mobile handset business, which has become a drag on the company. Last month, Motorola warned its fourth-quarter results would miss expectations and said its struggling mobile phone business would weaken further in the first half of 2009. The handset division is also expected to be hit with about 3,000 layoffs.

Sanjay Jha, who was named the new CEO of the company’s mobile devices business this summer, said Motorola will focus on three mobile platforms - Google’s Android for mid- and high-end phones, Windows Mobile for some smartphones and a proprietary OS for low-end phones. Android phones aren’t expected until next Christmas.

Comments

[Momina:]

Samsung designs the most gorgeous looking handsets. they pack nice features into them as well, but the look is always to die for and gives the handset a very trendy look. Motorola has been real slow on the uptake. the Razr shape was a hit, but Moorola should have continued innovating. Only now are reports in about the Aura, which is gorgeous looking, but personally i think Motorola's been slow on the uptake. Hope they put in a good fight though.

2008 Nov 10 01:07 PM

[Head_Hunter:]

Wow, it really doesn't feel like it, because Motorola has just come out with this new phone called the Krave (motorola.com/krave). It has a QWERTY keyboard and its narrower then the iPhone. It's a flip phone that has a clear top and its touch sensitive, so you can use your phone without even opening it. GPS, picture folders, and MP3 are all quick apps from the home-screen. As an employee of Motorola I can really tell you this is a find!

2008 Nov 10 03:48 PM