Apple has tied Samsung to become the world's largest smartphone vendor

Strategy Analytics reports that Apple has tied Samsung to become a provider of world's largest smartphone.

Linda Sui, Director at Strategy Analytics, said, "Global smartphone shipments grew 31 percent annually to 290.2 million units in Q4 2013 to a record $ 380.1 million in Q4 2014. An impressive 1300000000 smartphones were shipped worldwide in 2014, with very strong growth seen last year in emerging markets like China, India and Africa. "
Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics, added, "Apple sold 74.5 million smartphones worldwide and captured a record 20 percent market share in Q4 2014, from 18 percent a year earlier. the new Apple iPhone 6 and 6 Plus models are proving very popular in China, US and Europe. apple tied with Samsung to become a provider of world's largest smartphone for the first time since Q4 2011. Samsung sent 74.5 million smartphones worldwide and captured 20 percent market share in Q4 2013, down from 30 percent in Q4 2013. Samsung continues to face intense competition from Apple in the more high-end smartphone market, Huawei in the middle-level, and Xiaomi and others at the entry level. Samsung may soon have to consider taking on rivals such as Blackberry, in order to revitalize growth this year. Samsung remains the number one worldwide smart phone on a full year basis in 2014. "

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