Apple Overtakes Samsung to Become Largest Mobile Phone Vendor in U.S.Apple overtook Samsung as the market leader in mobile phones in the United States for the final quarter of 2012, reports Strategy Analytics, though Samsung still led for the year as a whole. The development marks the first time Apple has held the top spot in overall mobile phone shipments. The technology analysts estimate that a total of 52 million mobile phones were shipped in the U.S. last quarter, with Apple accounting for 17.7 million of them, Samsung for 16.8 million and LG a distant third with 4.7 million. Samsung had held the top spot since 2008 before being dethroned by Apple. Strategy Analytics Executive Director Neil Mawston said:We estimate Apple shipped 17.7 million mobile phones for a record 34 percent share of the United States market in the fourth quarter of 2012. This was up sharply from 12.8 million units shipped and 25 percent share in Q4 2011. Apple has become the number one mobile phone vendor by volume in the United States for the first time ever. Apple’s success has been driven by its popular ecosystem of iPhones and App Store, generous carrier subsidies, and extensive marketing around the new iPhone 5 model.The firm believes, however, that Samsung may retake the title when it launches its rumored Galaxy S4. Meantime, The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit yesterday rejected Apple's renewed attempt to ban sales of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, as noted by AllThingsD. Apple was initially awarded an injunction which prohibited sales of the Nexus in the long-running patent battle between the two companies, but this was overturned in October. This now exhausts Apple's appeal options, making the latest decision final. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories • Macworld/iWorld 2013: The BowBlade is an Archery Accessory for the iPhone • Macworld/iWorld 2013: Mauz Turns the iPhone into a Gesture-Controlled Mouse • Temple Run 2 Fastest Downloaded Mobile Game Ever, 50 Million Copies in Two Weeks • Penultimate Updated With Evernote Integration, Price Cut to Free • Apple Issues SMC Firmware Update for MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air Models • Apple Seeds Build 12D61 of OS X Beta 10.8.3 to Developers • Siri 'Eyes Free' Coming to 2013 Honda Accord, Acura RDX and ILX • iOS 6.1 Tidbits: Music Controls on Lock Screen, Maps 'Report a Problem' Button, Diagonal Swiping Bug
http://www.macrumors.com/2013/02/01/apple-overtakes-samsung-to-become-largest-mobile-phone-vendor-in-u-s/
