While Apple might have regained the number one smartphone maker spot, market research firm Strategy Analytics’ latest research shows that Nokia is the top dog in terms of mobile phone shipments.

According to Strategy Analytics (SA), global handset shipments increased by 11% annually, reaching 445 million units during Q4 of 2011. This assisted in boosting the full-year handset shipments figure to a whopping 1.6 billion units globally in 2011, for an year-on-year growth of 14%.

Despite only being third on the podium in terms of smartphones, Nokia took top honours in terms of mobile phones with its 113.5 million mobile phone shipments (25.5% market share), which is 10.2 million less compared to the same period last year, but a full 18.5 million more than second placed Samsung and its 95 million mobile devices (21.3% market share).

Neil Mawston, executive director at Strategy Analytics stated: “Nokia’s global handset shipments declined 8% annually to 113.5 million units in Q4 2011. Volumes were buoyed by the sales of Nokia’s low-end dual-SIM models in emerging markets like Southeast Asia, but were a little soft overall, as initial shipments of Microsoft Lumia phones could not offset declining Symbian sales.”

“Hot on Nokia’s heels, second-ranked Samsung captured 21% share with shipments of 95 million units. Samsung’s 18% annual growth was fuelled by robust shipments of its broad Galaxy-branded 3G portfolio, headlined by the Galaxy S2 superphone.”

And what of the big Apple?

SA said that Apple delivered an incredible sales performance for the quarter, managing to capture a record 8% global market share for Q4 2011.

Alex Spektor, associate director at Strategy Analytics stated: “Apple was the star performer, shipping 37 million iPhones worldwide and capturing a highest-ever 8% market share. Apple’s growth was fuelled by intense demand for its refreshed iPhone 4S, as well as the availability of three generations of iPhones at a variety of price points at operators like AT&T in the United States.”

Tom Kang, director at Strategy Analytics added: “Smartphone specialist Apple shipped 93 million handsets worldwide in 2011, nearly doubling the previous year’s volumes. Currently in just its fifth year of participation in the handset market, Apple is on track to ship well over 100 million units during 2012. China is becoming a key market for Apple this year, and we expect Apple’s share to grow rapidly in 2012, despite countless copycat rivals.”

 

In related news Espoo-based Nokia also recently announced the sale of its 1.5 billionth Series 40-running mobile phone and launched its Windows Phone Mango-powered Lumia range locally.