IDC: iPhone market share growth continued in 2009

According to new research released by IDC, the iPhone outpaced overall smartphone market growth in both the fourth quarter and on a yearly basis in 2009. The report states that Apple’s market share grew from 11.2% in the fourth quarter of 2008 to 16% in Q4 2009, placing the company behind rivals Research in Motion and Nokia, which held market shares of 19.6% and 38.2%, respectively. Fourth quarter iPhone shipments grew 97.7% year-over-year, a much greater increase than overall market shipments, which were up 39% from the prior year. For the whole of 2009, Apple’s iPhone shipments grew 81.9%, again outpacing overall industry unit growth of 15.1%. Apple’s market share for the year grew from 9.1% in 2008 to 14.4% in 2009, again placing the company in third behind RIM and Nokia. [via Mac Rumors]