China Overtakes U.S. as Largest Smartphone Market, Says Canalys

DigiTimes: Research firm Canalys says that for the first time ever, manufacturers shipped more smartphones to China than to the U.S. during the first quarter of 2012. The U.S. accounted for 16 percent of global shipments, which China had 22 percent. U.S. smartphone shipments rose just 5 percent during the period. By contrast, Asia-Pacific shipments climbed 81 percent, and Chinese shipments doubled.

Two-thirds of Chinese smartphones run Android, and Samsung is the number one smartphone manufacturer in the country. However, Apple’s iPhone is also making in-roads. “As well as seasonal factors, such as the Lunar New Year, the iPhone’s arrival at two of the country’s carriers helped boost volume and raised Apple’s share to 19 percent,” said Canalys research director Nicole Peng.