Micromax ousts Samsung as India’s market leader
5 Feb 2015 12:49 AM GMT
Samsung has been dethroned as the nation’s largest smartphone vendor by homegrown handset maker Micromax, research firm Canalys said, but the Korean giant disputed this saying it still remains at the top.
Micromax has captured 22 per cent share in the India smartphone market in terms of shipment in the October-December 2014 quarter. Samsung was pushed to the number two slot with 20 per cent share, as per the Canalys report.
However, Samsung refuted the Canalys report saying it had 34.3 per cent market share in the Indian smartphone market as per GfK data, which is based on actual sales numbers, putting it ahead of the domestic rival. Snubbing Canalys for “inaccuracy” in data, Samsung said that market research firm GfK gives actual sales figures, which is why it is preferred by the industry.
“We disagree with Canalys. We are not sure of the accuracy of the numbers (of Canalys). One is about shipments (Canalys) and the other reflects consumer sales (GfK). There is a reason that the industry syndicates and prefers GfK data,” Samsung India VP Marketing (Mobile business) Asim Warsi said. GfK numbers are more scientific and reflect retail sales.
Therefore, they are closest to consumers and show Samsung’s leadership in the smartphone segment, he added. Canalys said that in the October-December quarter, the Gurgaon-headquartered Micromax controlled 22 per cent market share in smartphones shipments in India - one of the world’s largest market for handsets - beating Samsung which had 20 per cent market share.
“Micromax has remarkably ousted Samsung to become the first domestic vendor to take the top spot in the Indian smartphone market, the third largest in the world,” Canalys said.
Micromax’s flagship line of products has very effectively targeted the $150-200 (Rs 9,000-12,000) segment with products like Canvas Nitro and Canvas Hue, it added.
Micromax has captured 22 per cent share in the India smartphone market in terms of shipment in the October-December 2014 quarter. Samsung was pushed to the number two slot with 20 per cent share, as per the Canalys report.
However, Samsung refuted the Canalys report saying it had 34.3 per cent market share in the Indian smartphone market as per GfK data, which is based on actual sales numbers, putting it ahead of the domestic rival. Snubbing Canalys for “inaccuracy” in data, Samsung said that market research firm GfK gives actual sales figures, which is why it is preferred by the industry.
“We disagree with Canalys. We are not sure of the accuracy of the numbers (of Canalys). One is about shipments (Canalys) and the other reflects consumer sales (GfK). There is a reason that the industry syndicates and prefers GfK data,” Samsung India VP Marketing (Mobile business) Asim Warsi said. GfK numbers are more scientific and reflect retail sales.
Therefore, they are closest to consumers and show Samsung’s leadership in the smartphone segment, he added. Canalys said that in the October-December quarter, the Gurgaon-headquartered Micromax controlled 22 per cent market share in smartphones shipments in India - one of the world’s largest market for handsets - beating Samsung which had 20 per cent market share.
“Micromax has remarkably ousted Samsung to become the first domestic vendor to take the top spot in the Indian smartphone market, the third largest in the world,” Canalys said.
Micromax’s flagship line of products has very effectively targeted the $150-200 (Rs 9,000-12,000) segment with products like Canvas Nitro and Canvas Hue, it added.
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