A high level of interest for the latest smartphones is driving the global handset market, with Samsung and Apple responsible for much of this success.
This is according to a new report by International Data Corporation (IDC) that found the two brands shipped almost half of the 153.9 million smartphones sold around the world in the second quarter of 2012.
Samsung saw sales increase by 172.8 per cent compared with the same period in 2011, resulting in its market share climbing from 17 per cent to 32.6 per cent. Meanwhile, Apple's share slipped from 18.8 per cent to 16.9 per cent.
Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst with IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker said: "Samsung and Apple have quickly become the global smartphone heavyweights though both employ somewhat different approaches to the market."
He noted while Samsung offers a wide range of devices across multiple price point, Apple offers a smaller range of high-profile models.
The other brands making up the top five most popular smartphone brands were Nokia (6.6 per cent), HTC (5.7 per cent) and ZTE (5.2 per cent).
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