By Cho Mu-hyun
The duopoly of Samsung Electronics and Apple in the lucrative smartphone market seems to be intensifying in the U.S.
According to research agency comScore Friday (KST), the two's market share increased in the three months ending Feb. 13 from the previous three-month period, while competitors' shares fell.
Samsung Electronics has 21.3 percent of the market, a slight increase from its share of 20.3 percent. Its latest flagship phone, the Galaxy S4 to be launched in April, will likely boost its segment.
Apple's share increased to 38.9 percent from 35 percent, likely helped by the launch of iPhone 5.
The two's rivalry is intensifying following Samsung's unveiling of the Galaxy S4 in March, with Apple considered likely to retaliate with its next flagship phone around the second half.
HTC, Motorola and LG Electronics each saw their share decline slightly. HTC fell to 9.3 percent from 11 percent, Motorola to 8.4 percent from 9.5 percent while LG remained at 6.8 percent.
Local industry observers believe LG Electronics will increase its share in the U.S. once its latest flagship device, the Optimus G Pro, is released there.
The agency also said that as of February, there were 133.7 million smartphone owners in the U.S. with around 37 million in Korea.
In platforms, or operating systems, the dominant Android fell to 51.7 percent from 53.7 percent. Despite the industry's worry of it becoming old, Apple's iOS rose to 38.9 percent from 35 percent.
Not surprisingly, shares other competing platforms dropped or remained unchanged. BlackBerry fell to 5.4 percent from 7.3 percent. Symbian retained its meager share of 0.5 percent.
Microsoft's ambitious Windows 8 platform got a slight bump to 3.2 percent from 3 percent. Mobile carriers are protesting to the reeling technology giant about a lack of mobile phones for sale, while manufacturers are finding it hard to make products using the platform due to its lack of popularity.
The duopoly of Samsung Electronics and Apple in the lucrative smartphone market seems to be intensifying in the U.S.
According to research agency comScore Friday (KST), the two's market share increased in the three months ending Feb. 13 from the previous three-month period, while competitors' shares fell.
Samsung Electronics has 21.3 percent of the market, a slight increase from its share of 20.3 percent. Its latest flagship phone, the Galaxy S4 to be launched in April, will likely boost its segment.
Apple's share increased to 38.9 percent from 35 percent, likely helped by the launch of iPhone 5.
The two's rivalry is intensifying following Samsung's unveiling of the Galaxy S4 in March, with Apple considered likely to retaliate with its next flagship phone around the second half.
HTC, Motorola and LG Electronics each saw their share decline slightly. HTC fell to 9.3 percent from 11 percent, Motorola to 8.4 percent from 9.5 percent while LG remained at 6.8 percent.
Local industry observers believe LG Electronics will increase its share in the U.S. once its latest flagship device, the Optimus G Pro, is released there.
The agency also said that as of February, there were 133.7 million smartphone owners in the U.S. with around 37 million in Korea.
In platforms, or operating systems, the dominant Android fell to 51.7 percent from 53.7 percent. Despite the industry's worry of it becoming old, Apple's iOS rose to 38.9 percent from 35 percent.
Not surprisingly, shares other competing platforms dropped or remained unchanged. BlackBerry fell to 5.4 percent from 7.3 percent. Symbian retained its meager share of 0.5 percent.
Microsoft's ambitious Windows 8 platform got a slight bump to 3.2 percent from 3 percent. Mobile carriers are protesting to the reeling technology giant about a lack of mobile phones for sale, while manufacturers are finding it hard to make products using the platform due to its lack of popularity.
![[INTERVIEW] 'Growth slowdown can accelerate depletion of retirement pension fund'](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/1b8c230b7aa14896bf5b639acd01a9ee.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] Veteran US photographer gives environment 'visual voice' to chronicle climate change](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/9d491d25431d4e9b980fee78427589dc.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
