TAIPEI: Shipments of handsets in the Taiwan market totaled 2.26 million units in the third quarter of 2015, down 17% sequentially and 12% on year, the Chinese-language Liberty Times quoted IDC data as indicating.
Of total shipments in the third quarter, smartphones totaled 2.13 million units, decreasing 18% on quarter and 13% on year. This is the first time smartphone sales recorded an annual decline in the local market, IDC said.
IDC attributed the decreased smartphone shipments in the third quarter to weaker than expected sales by Apple, Asustek Computer and HTC, particularly the iPhone 6-series which were down by 300,000 units as compared to a quarter earlier.
Samsung Electronics ranked as the top smartphone vendor in the quarter, powered by its mid-range Galaxy A8 and J7 as well as flagship Galaxy Note 5, IDC noted. Asustek took the second title, followed by HTC, Sony Mobile Communications and Apple.
Despite high shipment volumes and high penetration rates of smartphones in the Taiwan market, smartphone shipments in the local market are likely to continue to grow 2% on year in 2016, IDC estimated.
