According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, global smartphone shipments reached an all-time high of 173.8 million units in 2009, growing 15 percent from 151.1 million during 2008. In the Fourth quarter shipments grew 30 percent year-over-year, to reach a record 53 million units. This was the strongest period of growth since the Third quarter 2008.

Neil Mawston, Director at Strategy Analytics, said: “The smartphone market will become ultra competitive in 2010. Samsung and LG have ambitious plans to grow volumes and expand their app stores, while emerging players like Dell and Huawei are strengthening their device portfolios and courting major operators. The smartphone wars will be good news for consumers, but the fierce competition will inevitably place downward pressure on vendors’ pricing and margins.”

According to the research, Nokia shipped a record 20.8 million smartphones worldwide in Q4 2009, rising an impressive 38 percent from 15.1 million units a year earlier. This was Nokia’s strongest smartphone quarter since the first half of 2008, giving the firm a timely end-of-year boost to its revenue and profit. Key models included the E71 and E72 messaging phones.

RIM shipped a record 10.7 million smartphones worldwide in Q4 2009, remaining comfortably ahead of Apple’s 8.7 million units during the quarter. RIM continues to expand its international footprint beyond the core territory of North America deeper into Western Europe and parts of Asia.