Apple Overtakes Samsung to Become Largest Mobile Phone Vendor in U.S.

[MacRumors]

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.

Article Link: Apple Overtakes Samsung to Become Largest Mobile Phone Vendor in U.S.

[Xgm541]

Sometimes I wonder if being an analyst consists of owning a random number generator. Not saying the report is inaccurate, but how exactly do they come up with these numbers?

[zin]

Doomed. Doomed, I say!

[slesnick3]

Just pointing out that Apple took the lead for the last quarter most likely due to the timing of the release of the Iphone 5. Samsung was still significantly ahead for the entire year. The title of this article is a bit misleading and reads as though this is some sort of mega competition ala Super Bowl.

[Xavier]

The iPhone is failing. The world is coming to an end.

[Rogifan]

Oh yea, more analysis based on estimates.

[mouser45]

New model introduced=obvious sales

Happens with every major manufacturer

[mmikuta]

Time to shift the conversation. Apple is no longer in danger of going out of business like is was in the 90's. This was Steve's greatest accomplishment. Apple now has the ecosystem to carry it long into the future. Let others obsess with profits and marketshare. We want continued great design and polished innovation. The rest will take of itself.

[cxny]

oh no! More good news, AAPL will take a pounding...

[c0venant]

Samsung has like, a bajillion different phones for sale. Apple releases one phone per year.

[Rogifan]

Originally Posted by slesnick3

The title of this article is a bit misleading and reads as though this is some sort of mega competition ala Super Bowl.

Samsung certainly thinks it is.

[crackbookpro]

The "cheaper iPhone" has to be in production... Android is starting to saturate certain new international markets because of cheap adoption through a subsidizing culture created by Google & Samsung.

Android is stronger than it ever was, and Apple knows this, and Apple knows they have to release a cheap iPhone. I personally believe they should go back to the smaller screen, and make a phone out of polycarbonate backing.

The iPhone 5 is still undoubtedly the best phone ever made.

Next Fall - The iPhone 5s(along with the 5) should be able to make purchases with NFC & Bio-Metric scanning as the next big update, and while they do that... they should debut a smaller cheaper iPhone that can not do that particular feature. This would hurt the initial stock, but promote stronger investments in an array of avenues.

[syd430]

Next report: Apple shipped more phones on iPhone 5 launch day than Samsung

[applesith]

"SELL SELL SELL! Apple can't keep up!" - analyst

[kwfl]

in the US only!

[Digital Skunk]

Funny. Every other story I read especially on Engadget, says that Apple won the quarter but Samsung downright outsold Apple for the year.

[BornAgainMac]

Originally Posted by kwfl

in the US only!

Yes, there has to be at least one other country it does good in.

[syd430]

Originally Posted by applesith

"SELL SELL SELL! Apple can't keep up!" - analyst

Yeah because this report really proved all those analysts wrong.
/s

[Jman13]

So how far will the stock drop on this news? The biggest thing is look at the closing of the gap for the whole year. Last year, Apple had a huge gap between them and Samsung...now they've closed that to 5% in just one year. But of course, they're doomed and failing, right?

[Chris.L]

Originally Posted by Xavier

The iPhone is failing. The world is coming to an end.

The rest of the World is fine thanks

[zhenlek]

From a company that never made a phone until six years ago

[somethingelsefl]

...For now...


(This is a leap-frog game and it can only make my Apple products improve as a result)

[iScott428]

The Important figure here is the YOY growth for Apple and the lack of said growth for Samsung. It also should be mentioned that Apple only has 3 phones for sale, while Samsung has like ~10x that amount on the market.

[brdeveloper]

Only in USA, at christmas time. Nice stats, they really clarify the market's reality.

[lazard]

Originally Posted by iScott428

The Important figure here is the YOY growth for Apple and the lack of said growth for Samsung. It also should be mentioned that Apple only has 3 phones for sale, while Samsung has like ~10x that amount on the market.

you're disregarding the fact that if a person wants iOS, they only have one choice, Apple. If a person wants Android, they have the option of Samsung, Motorola, HTC, Sony, LG, etc. So for you to argue about the discrepancy of models offered by each company is a moot point.