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7 mobile phone companies that dissolved as Apple overtakes Samsung
While tech giants like Apple and Samsung are doing brilliantly, there are phone companies that are no longer with us after being swallowed by the competition.�
As of 2024, there are 7.07 billion phones on the planet and a grander total of 17.72 billion mobile devices. There are officially more phones than human beings! But while some companies are thriving in the over-exposed market, there are others like LG and Blackberry that have drawn their last breaths.
Apple overtakes Samsung
For the first time in 12 years, Apple has beat out Samsung with the most phones sold in a year, the International Data Corporation (IDC) reported. In 2023, they sold a staggering 234 million phones!
“Not only is Apple the only player in the Top 3 to show positive growth annually, but also bags the number 1 spot annually for the first time ever,” the IDC’s Nabila Popal told the BBC. “All this despite facing increased regulatory challenges and renewed competition from Huawei in China, its largest market.”
But some companies are not so lucky, so lets take a trip back in time to revisit some of the fallen heroes.
Blackberry
For a time, Blackberry was the cutting edge of cool. Their little clicky buttons were the must-have item back when iPhones were the new kid on the block. Sadly, they were kicked from their pedestal by the new kid and are now focused on providing enabling technologies to ensure the safety and security of all the devices and systems businesses rely on.
Motorola
Motorola had sold over 130 million units of its famed Razr line of phones by 2005 but also lost to Samsung and Apple. Their wireless network infrastructure was purchased by numerous companies before being acquired by Lenovo.
Nokia
It could be argued that Nokia was the godfather of modern mobile phones, predating the touchscreen ones of today by decades. They sold their business to Microsoft in 2013, which then sold it to Finlands HMD.�
LG
For a time, LG served in the mobile phone top three alongside Samsung and Apple devices. In 2021, they announced that they were slowing down that side of their business to focus on smart home improvements and robotics.
Siemens
Siemens Mobile actually predated Nokia with the launch of its first device in 1985. Unfortunately, they eventually fell under pressure and launched their last phones in 2005 after selling stock to a rival company.
Ericsson
Despite being the third-largest mobile phone seller in 2000, Ericsson experienced supply chain issues that eventually led to a necessary partnership with Sony. Finally, in 2011, they sold their shares to Sony for a whopping $1.2bn.�
Microsoft
Arguably one of the most notable companies on the list, Microsoft Lumia was originally designed and operated by Nokia. Considering most users despised the operating system, they lasted a fair while and shut down in 2016.
