Generally low-cost smartphones are intended for the markets of developing countries. However, IDC experts believe , shaken by new waves of crisis, Europe abandons the more expensive smartphones, for economic reasons and the general trend of reduction in price of such devices.
First , European mobile phone market shrank in annual terms by 4.2% to 43.6 million units. Even the sales of smartphones in the first quarter increased by only 12% to 31.6 million units, and it is the lowest growth rate since 2004. There are signs of saturation, especially in Europe. Subscribers use smartphones longer than before, and mobile operators reduce the amount of subsidies that promote the consumer to enter into long-term contracts when buying a smartphone.
In Western European countries, as IDC experts explain , there is a qualitative change in the consumer base. Now smartphones are purchased mostly by people who were content to this advanced phone models, but now just buy cheap smartphones under the influence of environment and advertising. In fact, they could continue to live without smartphones, but the price of entry-level model makes pointless purchase alternatives.
If we consider the cross-section of European mobile phone market by producers, Samsung is a leader (46%), followed by a large margin is Apple (14%), and Nokia (14%). Sony and LG closes the top five with 7% and 6% of the market respectively. However, if we take extremely smart phones, the same Nokia remains in fifth place with a 5% market share. Android has 69% market share of operating systems for smartphones, iOS content with second place with 20%, and Windows Phone for the year increased its share from 4% to 6%.