Android Reigns In Europe But Nokia Is Improving

Android has increased its share of smartphone sales in Europe to 61 percent, up from 51.8 percent last year, according to the latest sales data from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech. Smartphone penetration in the UK hit 60 percent of all mobile phones sold in the last 12 weeks.

Samsung continued to hold the number one manufacturer slot with 44.3 percent share in the latest period across the big five countries: France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom.  Apple took second place with 25.3 percent while HTC, Sony and Nokia were close in the chase for third position.

This contrasted with the US where Apple had its highest share so far of 53.3 percent, with the iPhone 5 helping to boost figures.

Nokia’s partnership with Microsoft to produce leading edge Lumia Windows Phones is paying dividends and a slight upturn to its failing fortunes was noted. But there is still a way to go.

Dominic Sunnebo, global consumer insight director at Kantar, said, “Nokia continues to find it tough to attract younger consumers in Great Britain. Over the past six months, just 28 percent of Nokia Lumia 800 sales have come from under-35’s, compared with 42 percent of all smartphone sales. With the Nokia Lumia 920 being one of the few handsets available on EE 4G, new tariffs may help to change this by attracting early adopters in the coming months.”

He also observed that Nokia is still finding the US market a tough nut to crack, despite the Windows Phone partnership. “Although Windows sales in the US remain subdued, Nokia is managing to claw back some of its share in Great Britain through keenly priced Lumia 800 and 610 prepay deals. The next period will prove crucial in revealing initial consumer reactions to the Nokia 920 and HTC Windows 8X devices.”