According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics (http://www.strategyanalytics.com), global smartphone shipments grew 43% year-over-year to reach 60 million units in the second quarter of 2010.

RIM shipped 11.2 million smartphones worldwide in Q2 2010, beating Apple’s 8.4 million units during the quarter. RIM is the number one smartphone player in North and South America, but its global marketshare of 19% is still a long way behind Nokia’s leading 40% share.

"Global smartphone shipments reached a record 60 million units during Q2 2010, accounting for 19% of handset volumes, and growing a healthy 43% from 42 million in Q2 2009," says Strategy Analytics analyst Alex Spektor. "Sales are being driven at an above-average rate by strong operator subsidies, vigorous competition between high-end vendors and a growing tide of lower-cost models using operating software like Symbian and Android."

"The global smartphone industry is growing volume but the industry’s value is beginning to feel the effects of intensifying competition," adds Neil Mawston, director at Strategy Analytics. "Dozens of vendors from the telecoms, PC and consumer electronics industries are piling into the market and driving down prices. Even established brands such as Nokia, RIM and Apple are finding it increasingly hard to raise prices and profits in the face of such fierce competition.”