By: iPadfanzz staff on February 3, 2013
Apple has outshone its arch-rival Samsung by becoming the leading U.S. mobile-phone vendor for the first time last quarter, securing a record 34% of market share.
According to a new report by research firm Strategy Analytics, the Cupertino-based company shipped 17.7 million phones during the fourth quarter, which is a growth of 4 per cent on annual basis, which is a jump from 12.8 million units shipped in the fourth quarter of 2011.
The report attributed the success in the mobile phone market to its popular ecosystem of iPhoens and the App Store, generous carrier subsidies, and an extensive marketing that goes around with the launch of the phone.
At the same time, the second spot was occupied by Samsung, which captured 32 per cent of the market share by shipping 16.8 million phones. The Korean company has for long occupied the top position as a mobile-phone vendor in the US since 2008.
Overall, mobile-phone shipments grew 4 per cent annually to 52 million in the fourth quarter of 2012 from 50.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, according to Strategy Analytics. "Growth was driven by robust demand among consumers for 4G smartphones and 3G feature phones."
