Samsung Now Dominates U.S. Phone Market

The Korean giant toppled struggling American manufacturer Motorola for the position, which it now holds decisively.

Motorola no longer rules the roost on its home turf when it comes to mobile phones. According to Strategy Analytics, Korean handset maker Samsung has knocked Motorola off its loosely held position by claiming 22.4 percent of the American market.

By contrast, the Illinois-based company now holds only 21.1 percent of the market, with another Korean challenger, LG, nipping at its heels with a 20.5 percent share. The news isn’t entirely surprising, considering Motorola’s significant third-quarter losses and recently announced layoffs.

Another American manufacturer, BlackBerry maker Research in Motion, retained its grip on the market with a 10.2 percent share at number four, and Nokia followed up with 8.4 percent for the number five spot. Apple, though offering only one phone, has managed to cut out an impressive 5.7 percent share for number six.

Though the news was glum for Motorola, all mobile phone manufacturers benefitted from a 6.2 percent jump in overall phone shipments during the third quarter of 2008 (as measured against the same time last year).