2011 smartphone year in review:
2011 was the first big year for smartphones in India. Convergence Catalyst estimates between 9 million and 9.5 million smartphones were sold in India during the year. October was a landmark month, as smartphone sales crossed the 1 million mark. The year was also significant in that smartphones breached the sub $100 price point with low-cost Android devices being launched in the market in Q4, 2011.
Although Nokia had a strong lead in the smartphone segment in the first half of the year (it started the year with close to 60% and ended Q4 with sub 40% share), Samsung has gained significant market share in the last two quarters and is the player to watch in 2012.
Both Android and Bada gained significant market share in Q4, 2011 largely due to Samsung’s strong momentum in the smartphone segment. Growth of Android can also be attributed to the availability on multiple brands and in a range of price points and its acceptance by the retail channel as well as consumers.
By Q4 2011, Android's share in India grew close to that of Symbian and is expected to overtake it in 2012. Indian and Chinese handset OEMs are yet to replicate their feature phone success in the smartphone segment in spite of having gradually entered the smartphone industry with Android devices through 2011.