Worldwide sales of smartphones grew 30 per cent in the fourth quarter from a year earlier to 53 million units on rebounding consumer spending and new models, according to researcher Strategy Analytics.

The research firm credited booming demand for new and cheaper smartphones for the phenomenal growth in the overall handset market late last year and predicts a fierce competition in 2010 as many new vendors enter the market.

"The smartphone wars will be good news for consumers, but the fierce competition will inevitably place downward pressure on vendors' pricing and margins," the firm added.

Nokia, Research in Motion Ltd., and Apple Inc. remained in the top three positions for mobile phones capable of running Internet browsers and software applications, the Boston-based research company wrote in a report.

Nokia increased its share to 39.2 per cent of unit shipments in the quarter. RIM's share grew to 20.2 per cent and Apple added more than 5 percentage points to 16.4 per cent, according to Strategy Analytics.