Apple (AAPL) gained share in the world’s largest smartphone market during the last quarter of 2013, according to an article this morning from The Wall Street Journal, which cited the latest data from market research firm IDC.
According to the statistics, Apple’s market share in mainland China rose to 7% in the 4th quarter from 6% in the third quarter, helped by strong demand for its new iPhone 5S.
The numbers however, do not include iPhone sales from the China’s largest carrier China Mobile (CHL), which recently began selling the iPhone through a partnership with Apple last month.
“The fourth quarter was the first full quarter after Apple launched its iPhone 5S and 5C in China in late September, on the same day the new phones came out in the U.S. and a host of other markets”, the Journal said.” In the past, iPhones went on sale in China months after they were launched in the U.S.”
Apple is still behind Samsung Electronics, with a 19% share in the fourth quarter, Lenovo, with a 13% share. Yulong Computer Telecommunication Scientific, with its ‘Coolpad’ brand, and Huawei Technologies came third and fourth, taking up 11% and 10% respectively. Xiaomi sits just behind Apple at 6%.
iPhone sales in Russia, meantime, doubled last year to 1.57 million units, bringing in $1 billion, reports Bloomberg.
Shares of Apple are down $10.24, or 1.84%, at $535.65 this morning.
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