Strategy Analytics sees Apple at 14.1pc in spring

An early estimate by Strategy Analytics hints that RIM may have lost market share again in the spring. Based on new results from the top three, the BlackBerry shrank to 18.8 percent in the season. Nokia will also have lost share, edging down to 40.3 percent.

Apple, meanwhile, is believed to be the have increased its share of market share in the season to 14.1 percent, up from 12.9 percent a year ago. Its share and RIM's may have been higher as Nokia included notebooks in its 24 million device figure, hiding a lower number of actual phones.

The share is based on a predicted total and could change as other companies weigh in, but most of the respective competitors are significantly smaller and less likely to alter the final results. The rise would suggest that Android has yet to dent Apple's growth, even with high profile phones like the Droid Incredible, but also that RIM's record 11.2 million BlackBerries were still evidence of slowing growth as younger competitors move faster.

Director Neil Mawston nonetheless warned things could change, as Apple's perception following the iPhone 4's antenna issues could risk souring sales in some areas. Apple for its part has said it continues to sell every phone it can make even as it increases production.

By Electronista Staff