Apple reclaims lead in U.S. smartphone market

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Latest data released on Tuesday showed that Apple has reclaimed the first place in the U.S. smartphone market on soaring sales of its new device iPhone 5.

For the past 12 weeks ended on Oct. 28, iPhone 5 sales boosted Apple to the No. 1 spot in the U.S. market, with handsets running on Apple's iOS operating system accounting for 48.1 percent of smartphone sales in the country, according to sales data from market research company Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.

During the same period, sales of smartphones powered by Google' s Android platform claimed 46.7 percent of the U.S. market.

"The last time we saw iOS overtake Android in the U.S. was when the iPhone 4S was released and Apple managed to retain its lead for three consecutive periods," the research company said in its report.

The report pointed out that the iPhone 5 success is built on consumer loyalty. Around 62 percent of iPhone 5 sales in the U.S. came from existing iPhone owners upgrading to the new device.

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