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Apple Beats RIM, Microsoft To Become No. 2 Smartphone Provider

Analysts have confirmed the numbers. Apple did indeed surpass RIM in sales during the second quarter to become the second-largest provider of smartphones. It also surpassed Windows Mobile. But can Apple keep the momentum going?

Smartphones have become a larger and larger chunk of the overall wireless landscape. According to Canalys, 39.9 million smartphones were shipped around the world in the third quarter, representing a 28% surge. That number means smartphones make up about 13% of all handset sales.

Of the 39.9 million, Apple sold 6.9 million, giving it a 17.3% share of the smartphone market. Even though Apple sold more smartphones than RIM, RIM was no slacker. It sold 6.1 million BlackBerry smartphones, giving it 15.3% of the market. Windows Mobile attained 13.5% of the market, while Symbian reached a commanding 46.6% of the smartphone market.

Senior Canalys analyst Pete Cunningham said, "It was expected that Apple would figure among the smartphone leaders this quarter, with that huge initial new product shipment, it was just a question of how high up it would be -- and this is impressive."

But there's a question about whether or not Apple can keep those sort of sales figures going. Analysts are suggesting that Apple is set to ramp down iPhone production due to softening demand for the product, which enjoyed a large surge in sale due to its recent availability in the market.

Other phone manufacturers are not sitting idly by, either. HTC has brought the Android phone to market, and Nokia has announced its own touch-based device that it is targeted squarely at the iPhone.

Lastly, RIM is pounding on Apple with a quick one-two punch with the Bold and Storm, which go on sale this month. With those two highly anticipated phones finally available, RIM could jump back in front of Apple quite easily.

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