engine - 2:30 pm on Apr 30, 2010 (gmt 0)

Smartphone Shipments Up Significantly [reuters.com]

Smartphone shipments surged 50 percent in January through March versus a year ago, notching up the strongest growth in the last three years with Apple Inc and Nokia Oyj taking market share, a survey showed.

Strategy Analytics (SA) said on Friday some 54 million smartphones -- handsets with computer-like functionality -- were shipped in the quarter, comprising 18 percent of the total handset market.

SA said iPhone maker Apple's market share leapt to 16.4 percent from 10.6 percent a year ago, while market leader Nokia raised its share to 40 percent from 38.2 percent. Blackberry maker RIM slipped to 19.7 percent from 20.3 percent.