Samsung takes symbolic lead in Australian market

Following Samsung’s win over Apple in the latest courtroom skirmish in Australia, new data from IDC shows that Samsung has now snatched the smartphone lead over Apple in the bell weather market. Samsung is now the leading individual vendor in the country. “Samsung has climbed to the No.1 position as a result of a strong push for its Galaxy S II,“ said Yee-Kuan Lau, market analyst for IDC.

Smartphones make up 65 percent of the Australian mobile phone market with Android overall enjoying a full 49 percent share of the segment. Apple holds down second place with 36 percent, although this figure included demand dipping off ahead of the iPhone 4S launch in October.

However, with the launch of the iPhone 4S and price drops for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS, IDC expects that the prize for the leading smartphone vendor for the full calendar year could be a close run thing. “As we are inching closer to year end, 2011 is proving to be an intense OS battle particularly in Australia,” added Lau. “IDC expects Android to win by a hair in the Australian smartphones tussle.” The launch of the Galaxy Nexus in Australia in the past week will also help to offset any recent Apple momentum.

Apple and Samsung are engaged in heated legal battles across the globe. News that Samsung has taken the lead in the Australian mobile will likely be music to Samsung's ears and a bitter blow to Apple who believe that Android has stolen much of its interface from its iOS mobile operating system. The court case in Australia has captured headlines around the world as Apple at first won a temporary ban stopping Samsung from launching its Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the country. However, this was recently overturned in an Australian court of appeal paving the way for Samsung to cash in on the lucrative holiday shopping season.

By Electronista Staff