According to data released by Strategy Analytics, over 52 million mobile phones were shipped in the US in the fourth quarter of 2012. The number of shipments registered a 4 per cent increase over 50.2 million units shipped a year ago.
The firm adds that this increase follows a 16 per cent decline in the first nine months of last year. Also, full year shipments declined by 11 per cent to 166.9 million units in 2012 from 186.6 million units in 2011.
In the fourth quarter of 2012, Apple gained a leadership position in the US mobile handset space. The company sold an estimated 17.7 million units in the fourth quarter, garnering a 34 per cent market share. In comparison, it sold 12.8 million units and had a 25 per cent market share in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Meanwhile, in the same period, Samsung sold 16.8 million phones and had a market share of 32.3 per cent, compared to 13.5 million phones and a 26.9 per cent market share in the fourth quarter of 2011. LG sold 4.7 million units and had a 9 per cent market share in this period, compared to 6.9 million units sold and a 13.7 per cent market share in the fourth quarter of 2011.
On a full year basis, Samsung had a 53 per cent market share, while Apple had a 43.7 per cent share and LG had a 20.5 per cent share.
Over the past year, the firm adds that LG lost market share to the bigger handset vendors in the smartphone segment. However, it is expected that the company?s performance will improve, given the launch of the Optimus G LTE Android device.
