I’ve just got round to writing here about our global handset shelf share data collected in November. Shelf share is always a hot topic amongst handset vendors and network operators and we released an Insight report last month, created from statistics generated using our SpecTRAX market monitoring tool. The above analysis is based on data from our SpecTRAX database which holds intelligence on over 11,000 handsets globally available. You can try the database tool for yourself by registering HERE ->

• Research in Motion’s BlackBerry Bold2 9700 extended its lead at the top of our shelf share analysis for Q3 2010
• RIM’s Curve 2 8520 bounced back into second spot, recovering from being pushed down to third in Q2 2010 by Nokia’s E72.

Our shelf-share analysis tracks the handset portfolios of around 130 network operators in 29 countries. This quarter’s global top ten consists of only four brands: RIM BlackBerry, Samsung, Nokia and Apple.

• Apple’s 16 and 32GB versions of its iPhone 4 replaced the 3G S versions, taking fifth and sixth spots respectively, increasing their shelf share healthily from when they were launched at the end of Q2.
• Nokia has lost ground within the top ten over the past two quarters. The 5230 and 2330 classic both remained static while the number of operators offering the E72, N97 mini and 2730 classic has shrunk.

The full research paper can be downloaded from HERE -> Next week I should have the regional details for the shelf-share analysis which will show some interesting differences between some of the world’s main regions. Steve Entwistle Twitter: sentwistle1419

We have just completed last month’s cell phone market insight report with updates on product announcements, trends and global and regional handset shelf share. A snapshot of the primary findings is below but the entire paper can be downloaded free of charge from HERE --> During September 2010, 24 handset vendors announced another 79 new handsets between them.

• Seven of these 79 new handsets, including both Motorola’s Flipside and Milestone 2 as well as the HTC 7 Pro, featured the increasingly popular combination of a full QWERTY keyboard and a 3-inch+ capacitive touchscreen.
• RIM’s BlackBerry Bold 2 9700 extended its lead at the top of our shelf-share analysis for Q3 2010, appearing on the handset portfolios of more carriers than any other model.

More detailed analysis of some of these key trends will feature here on this blog in the next few weeks. The above analysis is based on data from our SpecTRAX database which holds intelligence on over 11,000 handsets globally available. You can try the database tool (shown below) for yourself by registering HERE --> Steve Entwistle