Apple joins world’s top 10 cellular manufacturers in Q4 2007

Apple was amongst the world’s top ten cell phone manufacturers in the fourth quarter of 2007, according to new research from Gartner. For the first time, worldwide sales of mobile phones surpassed 1 billion units, with growth of 16 percent driving sales of 1.15 billion units in 2007, compared to 990.9 million in 2006. The fourth quarter of 2007 saw three new entrants to the top ten: Research In Motion, ZTE, and Apple. Apple placed tenth in the rankings, grabbing 0.6 percent of the market despite the iPhone being available in only four markets. “On one hand, we have aggressive pricing and a focus on emerging markets (ZTE), and on the other, RIM with targeted functions and Apple with brand and design,” said Carolina Milanesi, research director for mobile devices at Gartner. RIM ended up in sixth, with 1.2 percent share, while Nokia, number one with 40.4 percent share, continued to dominate globally. “Phone manufacturers need to continuously adapt their portfolios to respond to operators’ demands for open platforms, lower pricing and more personalization,” added Milanesi. “They should also try to meet consumers’ desires for fashionable, easy-to-use phones.”