Apple Number One for Global Smartphone Sales in 2011?

According to predictions made by DigiTimes Research, Apple could overtake Nokia in 2011 to become the world's top-selling smartphone manufacturer.

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Could the mobile industry's long-standing leader Nokia be knocked off the top spot in the smartphone segment this year by Apple?

That's what DigiTimes is predicting in any case, citing an estimated 86.4 million iPhone sales in 2011—up 82% on 2010—compared with 74.4 million Nokia smartphone sales. The research foresees that the Finnish manufacturer will see a 26% slump in sales compared with 2010, and that Nokia will be the only manufacturer to see negative growth in the sector.

Samsung, which has apparently seen the biggest jump in sales, should move into third place with 67 million handsets sold, followed by RIM with 55.7 million sales by the end of 2011. HTC will apparently be taking fifth position with 50 million handset sales.

All in all, DigiTimes predicts that smartphone sales should top a total of around 462 million unit sales by the end of 2011—that's a 60% increase on 2010.

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