An interesting thing happened in the smartphone market during the second quarter. Both Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Samsung passed Nokia (NYSE:NOK) in worldwide smartphone sales, according to ABI Research.
Apple shipped over 20.3 million iPhones to take the No. 1 position. Samsung followed with 19 million smartphones sold, including more than 5 million Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android-based Galaxy S II devices in less than three months.
Nokia represented 16.7 million handsets shipped, while Research In Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM) was No. 4 with 13.2 million smartphones sold, an 11 percent drop from Q2 2010.
Overall, Android comprised 46.4 percent of 103 million smartphones sold in Q2, showing Android’s global reach is great even in the face of the prestigious iPhone.
One interesting story line is how Android has led a major resurgence in Samsung’s smartphone business. Samsung’s Galaxy line of smartphones helped the company tally 34 percent of Android smartphone shipments. HTC was No. 2 in Android unit share with 23 percent.
"Although Apple’s 142 percent year-over-year growth placed it as No. 1 this quarter, Samsung’s 500 percent year-over-year growth shows that going forward, the top smartphone OEM position is Samsung’s to lose," said ABI Research Senior Analyst Michael Morgan.
To read the original eWeek article, click here: iPhone, Samsung Android Sales Squeeze Nokia: ABI
