Latest Kantar data shows stable Windows Phone market share in lead up to WP8 release

Kantar Worldpanel has just released their market share data for the 12 weeks ending the 28th October, and it generally reads as good news, despite the anticipation waiting for Windows Phone 8.

Due to discounting of second generation Windows Phones handsets have actually been selling pretty well, particularly in price-sensitive markets where phones are sold sans contract, such as Italy and Spain.

In Italy Windows Phones were able to maintain their double digit market share at 11.7%, with Kantar’s Dominic Sunnebo noting:

In Italy, strong sales of the Nokia Lumia 610, the fourth best selling handset over the past 12 weeks, and the Nokia Lumia 800, the seventh best selling, have helped drive Windows’ share up to 11.7%  – the highest across Europe.”

Market share also increased in Britain from 4.2 to 4.6%, again likely due to good sales of the NL 610 and 800 in the Pay as You Go market.

Overall compared to last month Windows Phone market share drifted slightly in EU5 market from 4.9 to 4.7% and increased year on year from 2.9%.

November’s results should mark the first real period of general availability of Windows Phone 8 handsets, but may not be as robust as wished due to poor supply of the very popular Nokia Lumia 920.

See the full Year on Year results after the break.