Overall, the Finnish company experienced a remarkable rise and became the clear industry leader by the end of the period, while the American brand saw a continual downturn. The Swedish manufacturer, meanwhile, remained the smallest competitor, showing only mild variations in its performance.
In 1994, the US-based firm dominated the sector with just over 30% of total handset sales. However, its position declined steadily thereafter, dropping to roughly 15% in 2000 and reaching a low of nearly 10% in 2003. Although it improved slightly to about 12% in the final year, it still remained far below its initial level.
The Finnish producer began with approximately 22% and remained stable until 1997. It then witnessed a sharp surge, overtaking its American rival in 1998 and climbing to a peak of nearly 38% in 2002. Despite a modest fall to 30% in 2004, it retained a substantial lead over the other two companies.
The Swedish phone maker started with a 10% portion of global sales in 1994. This figure rose gradually to 15% by 1998 before slipping during the early 2000s. By 2003, its contribution had fallen to about 8%, though it recovered slightly to roughly 12% at the end of the timeframe.
In summary, the decade saw the Finnish manufacturer become the dominant force in the industry, the American company lose considerable ground, and the Swedish competitor remain a relatively minor player.