Apple Now Largest Mobile Phone Manufacturer In US

Apple has gained the title of the world's largest mobile phone manufacturer in the US during Q4 2012. According to Strategy Analytics, Apple maintains 34% of the mobile phone market share, which gives the company the largest piece of the pie, beating out Samsung who has 32.3% of the market share for Q4 2012.

This move up to the top of the list marks the first time that Apple has taken the crown. The Cupertino-based company shipped an estimated 17.7 million phones in the fourth quarter, while Samsung shipped 16.8 million handsets. Third place went to LG, but with only a 9% market share, and shipments of 4.7 million units.

However, while Apple might have taken the fourth-quarter crown, Samsung ended up shipping more phones throughout the entire year of 2012, taking 31.8% of the market share, while Apple owned 26.2%. Again, LG came in third with a 12.4% share of the phone market. Samsung ended up shipping 53 million phones during 2012, while Apple shipped 43.7 million.

Strategy Analytics says that the release of the iPhone 5, as well as assistance from carriers helped Apple claim the US mobile market share title in Q4 2012. Previously, Samsung had worn the crown since 2008. The Korean company still had a good quarter, though. Its market share rose 5% from a year ago, and they made over $8 billion in pure profit last quarter as well.