LOS ANGELES — Samsung surpassed Apple in smartphone shipments for the third quarter, a recent report showed.
According to research firm Strategy Analytics, Samsung accounted for almost 24 percent of all smartphone shipments for the quarter thanks in part to strong sales of its Galaxy S II phone and Apple accounted for almost 15 percent of the market.
Samsung shipped close to 28 million of its Google Android-based smartphones in the third quarter, while Apple shipped 17 million of its iPhones. The research firm said that Apple's growth was affected because consumers were holding off purchases in anticipation of the company's new iPhone 4S, volatile economic conditions, and tough competition.
Samsung's rise has been driven by a blend of elegant hardware designs, popular Android services, memorable sub-brands and extensive global distribution," Strategy Analytics analyst Alex Spektor said.
"Samsung has demonstrated that it is possible, at least in the short term, to differentiate and grow by using the Android ecosystem."
