Report: iPhone captured 51.2-percent of US smartphone market last quarter, Android switchers up 10 percent

Apple was able to maintain its lead of smartphone sales in the U.S. market during the holiday quarter ending Dec. 23, according to new data released by Kantar Worldpanel ComTech. The report said iOS was the top-selling smartphone platform during the three-month period, as it recorded 51.2-percent of market sales compared to Android’s 44.2-percent.

While Android’s share of the market remained steady, down from just 44.2-percent last year, Kantar noted an increasing number of iPhone sales to other smartphone users. Sales of iPhones to Android users apparently grew 10 percent compared to 2011:

“In particular, 36% of iOS sales were derived from other smartphone users over the last year. While this figure remains stable over time, the proportion of Android users moving towards the Apple brand increases. 19% of iOS sales over the last year were derived from Android users, compared to 9% in 2011,”

Among the switchers, the majority came from Verizon. About 49 percent of new iPhone sales came specifically from users of another smartphone platform, while 30 percent came from Android users. AT&T, however, only had about 6 percent Android switchers, as the majority of new iPhone purchases—55 percent—were derived from iPhone upgrades:

While for other customer groups, 35% of iOS sales were those upgrading from a previous iPhone and 30% were those upgrading to their first smartphone… AT&T continued to utilize their large Apple base with 55% of their iOS sales stemming from these users upgrading to a newer iPhone while 37% of Verizon’s iOS sales were derived from their large featurephone base.

As for carriers, AT&T continued to lead with 33.3-percent of smartphone sales followed by Verizon close behind at 32 percent:

Top carrier rankings remain consistent this period, with AT&T continuing to maintain its lead with 33.3% of smartphones sold in this 12 week period. AT&T has declined slightly, reducing the gap with Verizon whose share remains stable with 32% of smartphones sold. Sprint remains one of the key carriers offering Apple but is seeing little increase in sales share, as the brand continues to decline this period in third place with 14.8% of smartphone sales.