Apple (AAPL) Becomes Top U.S. Smartphone Vendor for First Time Ever

Apple, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) is set to move higher Friday following positive data for fourth-quarter 2012 U.S. mobile smartphone market share.

According to Strategy Analytics, Apple shipped 17.7 million units in the final quarter of last year, topping Samsung's 16.8 million shipment number. The number puts Apple with a U.S. market share of 34 percent, versus 32.3 percent for Samsung.

Apple's market share is up from just 25.4 percent in Q411, while Samsung improved from 26.9 percent.

In total, the U.S. smartphone market grew a modest 3.6 percent to 52.0 million units last quarter and shrank 10.7 percent for 2012.

With its fiscal first-quarter 2013 results, Apple reported iPhone shipments of 47.8 million units, up 29 percent over the prior year.

Shares of Apple are up 0.8 percent early.

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