[Samsung becomes U.S. cell phone market leader for the first time during the third quarter of 2008 reports Strategy Analytics.]

Boston -- According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, mobile phone shipments in the United States defied the economic gloom and grew 6 percent annually, to reach 47 million units during the third quarter of 2008. Samsung outperformed, making it the market leader in the US for the first time.

Neil Mawston, Director at Strategy Analytics, said, “Despite the financial crisis, mobile phone shipments in the United States reached 47.4 million units during Q3 2008, up 6.2 percent from 44.6 million in Q3 2007. Attractive bundling schemes from operators, healthy subsidies and aggressive pre-stocking by distributors ahead of the holiday season helped to lift volumes.”

Bonny Joy, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics, added, “Samsung had a strong quarter. Samsung registered 22.4% marketshare in the US during Q3 2008, enabling it to reach first position for the first time in its history. Samsung’s growing retail presence and an attractive handset portfolio for each of the big four operators proved crucial in grabbing the prestigious title of the number one vendor in the world’s single largest handset market.”

Other findings from this Strategy Analytics report, Vendor Share: Samsung Goes Top in North America in Q3 2008, include:

* RIM maintained a double-digit marketshare for the second straight quarter. Its balanced portfolio of enterprise and consumer devices is seeing solid demand;

* Apple reached 6th position in the USA during Q3 2008. AT&T subsidized the iPhone heavily down to lower retail price-points, driving a spike in demand.

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