Nokia's Q3 smartphone market share drops to 14%

Finland-based Nokia Corp.'s share of the global smartphone market fell to about 14%, or about 16.8 million units, in the quarter ended Sept. 30, from 33% in the same quarter last year, according to data from market research firm Canalys. Meanwhile, the global smartphone market grew 49% in the third quarter from a year earlier to 120.4 million units.

"Nokia became complacent," Canalys analyst Pete Cunningham told Dow Jones Newswires."They led the smartphone market for years, but slowly and surely Apple and other vendors started catching up."

However, Cunningham is positive about the new direction Nokia is taking with the launch of its new Windows phones.

"Since February we've seen a re-energized Nokia and the launch of the new Windows phones last week is effectively day one of the new Nokia," he said. But Cunningham believes the Finnish firm has tough quarters ahead.

"It wouldn't surprise me if they lose more market share, but they've given themselves an opportunity to compete again. It remains to be seen if they can ramp up volumes now," he said.

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