IDC has released data showing an increase in smartphone shipments in Q2 2013 in Vietnam. 32.7 percent of total mobile phone shipments were smartphones, up from just 14.7 percent in Q2 2012. The good news here for Windows Phone is not only are we looking at a larger market for OEMs to take advantage of, but the platform has increased its share of the smartphone market in the region by a fair amount.
Having just 5.7 percent of the market in 2012, Windows Phone has seen growth of 119 percent for this year. Android still remains dominant on 82.2 percent, but Microsoft's platform takes second place with 15.3 percent. The below charts show how the two platforms are now separated from the competition with iOS in third place on 1.6 percent.
BlackBerry almost has a higher share of the market than Apple, which is interesting considering the current condition of the company and how it's looking at various options, including the possibility of selling off the company. Daniel Pang, ASEAN Research Manager for Client Devices at IDC Asia/Pacific, had the following to comment on the Windows Phone increase:
"The strong uptake of Nokia’s Lumia 520 has really helped Windows Phone 8 to drive Vietnam’s smartphone market. If Nokia can maintain a strong emerging market portfolio, it may be able to continue to differentiate itself from the mass of low-cost vendors.”
We've previously looked at just how popular the Lumia 520 is and how Nokia has been flooding regions with the most affordable Lumia Windows Phone. With current trends looking to continue, Microsoft is certainly wise to snatch up Nokia and really invest in plans to further market and promote its platform in regions where the foot is safely in the door.
Source: IDC; thanks, sri_tech, for the tip!
