BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) has been trying to crawl back to its original position within the smartphone market, but to no avail. Meanwhile more and more data indicates that Windows Phone has replaced it for third place in the smartphone race.
IDC shows BlackBerry pushed into fourth
This latest information comes from International Data Corporation (IDC), and it indicates that BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) sold approximately 6.8 million handsets during the second quarter of the year. That’s just 2.9% of the smartphone sales. Last year in the second quarter, the company sold 7.7 million handsets and held 4.9% of the smartphone market.
According to a report by Shane Dingman and Omar El Akkad in The Globe and Mail, BlackBerry’s low sales levels have brought it down to a level that hasn’t been seen since IDC started tracking mobile phone sales. And what’s even worse is that the data used for these latest numbers includes not just early sales from the BlackBerry 10 launch but also sales from the BlackBerry Z10 and the BlackBerry Q10—the two devices that were supposed to save the company.
Windows Phone overtakes BlackBerry
As BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB)’s sales have fallen, Windows Phone sales have climbed significantly. Year over year, they’ve risen 77%. So far this year there have been 8.7 million Windows Phones sold, compared to 4.9 million last year. Of course Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V)’s new Lumia line makes up the greatest majority of that growth. The company’s Lumia handsets make up over 80% of Windows Phone sales.
BlackBerry still leads Windows Phone in the U.S.
In the U.S., BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) is still in third place with 4.4% of the market, however, that position is clearly in jeopardy. Data from comScore shows that BlackBerry subscribership in the U.S. fell 15% from March to June. Windows Phone is nipping at the company’s heels, now holding 3.1% of the market.
Android continues to dominate the smartphone market, both in the U.S. and around the globe.
Apple falling too, but recovery expected
BlackBerry isn’t the only company being hurt by Windows Phone’s small rise in popularity. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s market share has also been declining, mostly because it has yet to update its iPhone. Apple’s market share dropped to 13.2% from 16.6%. Meanwhile both Android and Windows Phone increased their market shares.
IDC still expects Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) to make a comeback. The company cited relationships with Chinese mobile carriers and the release of new products.
