Samsung still leads in India, but losing ground: CyberMedia Research

Here’s yet another survey that refutes the Canalys report about Micromax surpassing Samsung to take the top position in India. However, the report does mention how Samsung is ’losing grip’ in India. The new report by CyberMedia Research (CMR) states Samsung captured 16.5 percent of the overall shipments in India in 2014, followed by Micromax and Microsoft (Nokia) at 13.3 percent each. According to CMR’s India monthly mobile handsets market review for the year 2014, overall mobile handsets market grew by 4 percent to 257 million units in terms of shipments compared to 2013. However, the report also adds that, despite its top position, the phone maker is “losing the firm grip” it had over Indian mobile market. Its shade declined to 16.5 percent at the end of December 2014 from 20.3 percent at the beginning of the year. “Samsung was seen to be losing its earlier firm grip on market, as its share of the market showed a downward trend during the year, as compared to Micromax that gained primarily in April-June 2014, but then continued to remain flat during the rest of the year,” CMR said in a statement. Talking about the overall market share in January-March 2014 quarter, Samsung reportedly stood at 20.3 percent. It was followed by Micromax at 11.2 percent and Microsoft (Nokia) at 17.6 percent. In terms of the smartphone segment, 77 million smartphones were shipped in 2014 accounting to nearly 30 percent of the overal phone market, according to the research firm. The report also highlights that the smartphones segment grew at 46 percent compared to the previous year. Samsung has been losing its grip even in the smartphone segment as its market share reportedly fell from 43.2 percent at the start of the year to 29.3 percent at the end of year. On the other hand, Micromax expanded its share from 17.5 in January-March 2014 to 18.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014. Last week, we saw multiple reports discussing Samsung’s position in India. First, a Canalys report revealed how Micromax has overtaken Samsung in the mobile race in India. However, Samsung dissed the Canalys report, saying it is still the leading smartphone brand in India with a 34 percent market share. Soon, a new **Counterpoint Survey** said that Samsung still maintains the top position, followed by Micromax and Intex.