The Swansea Bay City Deal awarded VMO2 a contract to upgrade fibre infrastructure. The global smartphone market is expected to grow, driven by Android sales in China and emerging markets. Patton acquired Raymar Information Technology to continue supporting crucial legacy industrial technologies. EE has released age-specific smartphone usage guidelines.
Motorola and Google Cloud have announced a new multi-year partnership to integrate generative AI technology into Motorola phones, starting with the latest series of razr smartphones. The flagship models, including the motorola razr+/motorola razr 50 ultra, will feature Moto ai technology, which leverages Google Cloud’s Vertex AI, Gemini, and Imagen models. This technology aims to enhance the user experience by offering task completion, relevant suggestions, reminders, information summarization, and more.
Samsung played a pivotal role in the German smartphone market’s recovery during the first quarter of 2024, ending a prolonged period of decline. According to Counterpoint Research’s Q1 2024 Market Monitor Shipment Tracker, smartphone shipments in Germany increased by 13% year-over-year.
After more than two years of declines, the European smartphone market has started to show signs of recovery, with a 10% year-on-year increase in shipments during the first quarter of 2024, according to Counterpoint Research. However, analysts are cautious about predicting a significant long-term upswing.
Recent data reveals a promising resurgence in the global smartphone market, with Samsung and mass-market mobile phone brands spearheading the rebound while Apple faces challenges in keeping pace. According to Canalys, smartphone sales worldwide reached 296.2 million units in the first quarter of the year, marking a notable 10% increase compared to the previous year. This growth signifies the market’s first positive double-digit year-on-year figure since early 2021, reflecting better-than-expected performance.
According to Counterpoint’s Market Pulse Service, China’s overall smartphone sales saw a modest 1.5% year-on-year growth in Q1 2024, marking a second consecutive quarter of positive growth. Notably, Huawei experienced a remarkable 69.7% year-on-year increase in market share, solidifying its position in the market. This growth was attributed to Huawei’s successful launch of the 5G-capable Mate 60 series and its enduring brand reputation, particularly in the premium segment priced above $600. In contrast, Apple witnessed a 19.1% year-on-year decline in market share during the same period, partly due to Huawei’s gains in this segment.
The smartphone industry is gearing up for a seismic shift as generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) capabilities become mainstream. According to the latest forecast from Counterpoint Research, the global shipment of GenAI-capable smartphones is expected to grow at an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 65% between 2024 and 2027.
In a surprising turn of events, Apple, the tech powerhouse, has emerged victorious in the global smartphone market for 2023, surpassing its competitors in sales despite maintaining its position as the most expensive option. This revelation comes from IDC, the first analyst firm to release figures supporting Apple’s unprecedented success this year.
While China’s smartphone market experiences a downturn, notable shifts are being observed as Huawei gains momentum. Canalys’ data highlights that despite a downslide in overall market status, the launch of Huawei’s Mate series and consequent rise in domestic market shares are adding a positive spin. Will a potential revival led by Huawei’s promising trajectory speak to a larger market rejuvenation? Unpack the trends shaping China’s competitive smartphone landscape.
In a collaboration with Bloomberg, Canadian company TechInsights racks the Huawei Mate 60 Pro under scrutiny, examining whether the covertly launched flagship phone can surpass the considerable limitations imposed on it by the US government.
