Samsung crowned as the world's number one handset manufacturer

Samsung has stolen the crown from Nokia to become the world’s biggest handset maker, bringing the Finnish manufacturer’s 14-year reign to an end.
Samsung will account for 29 per cent of international smartphone shipments for 2012, according to IHS iSuppli. The number represents a five per cent on its market share in 2011.
Meanwhile, Nokia’s share for 2012 is estimated to be at 24 per cent, placing it behind Samsung in second place, having fallen from 30 per cent last year.
One of the key factors behind Samsung’s growth is the widespread adoption of smartphones and the decline of feature phones. IHS’ Wayne Lam said: “Smartphones represent the fastest-growing segment of the cellphone market—and will account for nearly half of all wireless handset shipments for all of 2012. Samsung’s successes and Nokia’s struggles in the cellphone market this year were determined entirely by the two companies’ divergent fortunes in the smartphone sector.”
IHS Suppli’s latest report also shows that Samsung is leading the race in the smartphone arena with 28 per cent of the market, with Nokia dropping significantly from 16 per cent to just five per cent.

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