The latest market reports indicate that Apple has surpassed RIM in its long dominated segment. Apple’s iPhone 3G has moved ahead of Research In Motion’s (RIM) BlackBerry to take second place in third-quarter global Smartphone rankings.

Apple has also edged out Microsoft in Smartphone operating systems.

This year, the Smartphone shipments have increased by 28 percent compared to last year. Now Smartphones represent 13 percent of the total mobile handset market, up from 11 percent in the second quarter.

Nokia was able to maintain its lead followed by Apple and RIM. Nokia shipped 15.5 million Smartphones in that period, down slightly from last year as its market share fell to 38.9 percent from 51.4 percent.
HTC was the only non-Western Smartphone vendor to get listed among the top five in the third quarter.

Although Nokia’s Symbian OS retained its market dominance, the Apple OS took a chunk of its market and posted a huge year on year growth rate.

The development of new mobile phone technology, such as Maps programs or others, has become critical to lead competition in the Smartphone business.

Vinod Negi/ITVoir Network