Mobile Phone Market – Nokia Dominates GSM Market, LG Leads CDMA

Today mobile phones have moved beyond their primary role of voice communications and have graduated to become an essential entertaining device for mobile users. We are in an era where users buy mobile phones not just to be in touch, today’s youth use it to express their thoughts, for social networking, to show their interests, play games, read news, surf on the internet, listen to music, chat instantly with friends & families and even check their bank balances. There are various phone manufacturers providing handsets.

However, Nokia is the dominant player on the GSM space, accounting for 63% of the installed base (phone’s currently in use) while LG rules CDMA with 48% of installed base market share. On looking at urban India GSM/CDMA combined installed base, Nokia is at the top with 54% of installed base market followed by LG (14%). LG is second most used handset manufacturer India primarily due to its dominant position in the CDMA.

Phone manufacturer usage

April 2009 ending quarterly Average -  India Urban Mobile Phone Users (N=5,775)

Brands Installed base*
GSM CDMA Total
(GSM + CDMA)
LG 4.4% 47.6% 14.4%
Motorola 7.8% 5.4% 7.2%
Nokia 62.6% 24.3% 53.7%
Samsung 9.0% 11.2% 9.5%
Sony-Ericsson 8.9% 6.8%

* – Users currently using the phone model

On looking at the ability of manufacturers to gain market share via word of mouth, Nokia and Sony-Ericsson fare a lot better compared to the other three big manufacturers, with 2 out of 3 users for each of the two manufacturers mentioning they are likely to recommend their handset to their friends.

Phone manufacturer usage

April 2009 ending quarterly Average – India Urban Mobile Phone Users (N=5,775)

Model Installed base*
Likely to Recommend**
LG 57.6%
Motorola 41.0%
Nokia 68.6%
Samsung 55.7%
Sony-Ericsson 65.3%

* – Users currently using the phone model

**Likely to recommend current phone manufacturer to others

About Vital Analytics

Vital Analytics is a pioneer in measuring current and future mobile trends in India. For more information, please visit www.vitalanalytics.in (Naveen Menon)

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  • comment(s) on Mobile Phone Market – Nokia Dominates GSM Market, LG Leads CDMA

    11 Responses to Mobile Phone Market – Nokia Dominates GSM Market, LG Leads CDMA

    1. Nokia is best suited for the indian urban audience. User friendliness varies based on target audience, i believe.

    2. raj kumar says:

      how ever the market is the thing is how the company is going to focus their models it would b the sale………..

    3. pradeep says:

      from 2002 i am using nokia mobile . just in 2008 i changed to lg but i can proudly say lg is very good in customer service they are promising 1 hour service . just i went for soft upgrade they done with in 30 min so lg leads in service

    4. K says:

      lg phones may b gud but their service centre is pathetic

    5. hussain says:

      i feels lg is having a very good customer support network than any other mobile companies

    6. Naresh says:

      Lg leads cdma as there are more lg cdma from reliance

    7. Ganesh says:

      Kindly updated me about share market of mobiles in india.

    8. Dilip Paliyath says:

      The reason LG leads on CDMA is reliance since they had a good exposure and strong bond. Simply LG’s marketing strategy worked in India.

    9. I know right, it is awesome!