Samsung Rides the Wave in Smartphone Sales
The latest data from 451 Research's ChangeWave service shows that Samsung's Galaxy III smartphone is gaining market share on the iPhone from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL). In its December survey of "primarily North American respondents," ChangeWave reports that 50% of those who plan to buy a new smartphone in the next 90 days plan to purchase an iPhone.
That's still a pretty big number, but not as big as the 71% who planned to purchase an iPhone just 90 days ago. People intending to buy a Samsung smartphone in the next 90 days total 21% of the market, up from just 13% one quarter ago. ChangeWave calls the gain "unprecedented."
The research firm notes:
Consumer buying intent for Samsung smart phones has been extraordinary to start the year. Considering the Galaxy S III has been out for several months we'd normally expect a slowdown by now - but it's still red hot.
And consumers are also showing more interest in the larger screen Galaxy Note. Large-screen devices like the Note even got a new moniker at the recent Consumer Electronics Show: "phablets." In fact, ChangeWave's study notes that the Galaxy Note accounts for 23% of potential buyers of a Samsung smartphone.
But don't count Apple out yet:
With this level of consumer interest, Apple is perfectly capable of producing a large-screen smart phone that's virtually a tiny tablet - they could call it an ';iTab' - and have it on the shelves for the next Holiday season.
Another somewhat startling finding is that the Windows Phone operating system from Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) received a higher customer satisfaction rating (53%) than did the Android operating system from Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG). That helped Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK) jump into a virtual tie with Samsung in the 'very satisfied' category. Apple leads with a 70% rating.
One lesson here is that the coming release of the Blackberry 10 from Research in Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM) had better be spectacular.
Filed under: 24/7 Wall St. Wire, Consumer Electronics, Hardware, Research, Software, Telecom & Wireless Tagged: AAPL, GOOG, MSFT, NOK, RIMM
