According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, Apple has become the number one mobile phone vendor for the first time ever, capturing a record 34% market share.

 

Mobile phone shipments grew 4% annually to reach 52 million units in the United States during the fourth quarter of 2012.

Neil Shah, senior analyst at Strategy Analytics, said, “The growth was driven by robust demand among consumers for 4G smartphones and 3G feature phones. However, despite a solid fourth-quarter performance, the U.S. mobile phone market had previously contracted 16% for the first three quarters of 2012 due to economic uncertainty and tighter carrier upgrade policies. As a result, U.S. mobile phone shipments fell 11% from 186.8 million units in 2011 to 166.9 million in 2012.”

“We estimate Apple shipped 17.7 million mobile phones for a record 34% share of the United States market in the fourth quarter of 2012," added Neil Mawston, executive director at Strategy Analytics. "This was up sharply from 12.8 million units shipped and 25% 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."

"Samsung shipped 16.8 million mobile phones in the United States, for 32% share, during Q4 2012," Mawston said. "This was a good performance from Samsung, as its market share rose 5 points from 27% a year earlier, but it was not enough to hold off a surging Apple. Samsung had been the number one mobile phone vendor in the U.S. since 2008, and it will surely be keen to recapture that title in 2013 by launching improved new models such as the rumored Galaxy S4.”

 

Linda Sui, analyst at Strategy Analytics, noted, “LG remains the third largest player in the U.S. mobile phone market. We estimate LG shipped 4.7 million mobile phones for 9% share of the United States market in Q4 2012, dipping from 6.9 million units and 14% share a year earlier. LG struggled to compete with an Apple and Samsung onslaught in the high-growth smartphone sub-category last year, but LG will be aiming to fight back this year with new and improved models like the Optimus G 4G LTE with Android.”