Windows Phone picks up market share in Q3 while iOS and Android are flat

According to research firm Canalys, Windows Phone picked up some market share in the third quarter while iOS and Android remained flat. Shipments of Windows Phone flavored handsets rose a stunning 185% to 9.2 million units globally in the third quarter. That allowed Microsoft's mobile OS to own 4% of the global smartphone market for the three months through September. Windows Phone is gaining momentum on the strength of Nokia's low-priced models like the Nokia Lumia 520 and Nokia Lumia 521. Additionally, Nokia has been outfitting its top-shelf models with cameras that take clear pictures in low-light conditions.

Windows Phone could continue to pick up market share at the expense of iOS and Android. The recent GDR3 update now allows Nokia to produce models like the Nokia Lumia 1520 phablet with a 6 inch screen, 1080 X 1920 resolution, and have it all powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. And the unannounced Nokia Lumia 929 for Verizon offers essentially the same specs as the Lumia 1520, but with a 5 inch screen.

In 19 countries, Windows Phone is already number two. Not surprisingly, the platform has a 39% market share in Nokia's home country of Finland. Other countries where Windows Phone is second include Vietnam (16 percent), Italy (15 percent), Thailand (11 percent), Turkey (11 percent), and Russia (8 percent).

Overall, 250 million smartphones shipped in the quarter, a 44% increase from 2012. Samsung leads the way among smartphone manufacturers with a 34% market share globally. Apple was next with 15%. The top five rounds out with Huawei, Lenovo and LG in third, fourth and fifth respectively.

source: Canalys via TheNextWeb, WPCentral