 Carriers worldwide sold more iPhone 4s in the first quarter than any other smartphone, suggesting Apple may benefit from holding off on the iPhone 5.
Strategy Analytics said the iPhone 4 knocked BlackBerry Bold 9700 from the top spot after the Research in Motion device held the position for over a year.
Despite RIM's gradual slide in market share as Apple's iOS and Google's Android platforms grow, the company still has three of the top ten models. The 9700, meanwhile, plunged to sixth -- the first time in two years that RIM didn't have a model in the top three, suggesting that it needs to get its next-generation of QNX-based handsets out the door sooner rather than later to stop the bleeding.
In a surprise to U.S. readers, Nokia's N8 took second place -- the company's smartphones have virtually disappeared from the U.S. carrier marketplace. Two other models made the top ten, showing that the Finnish giant is still a force to be reckoned with globally. Its Microsoft-powered reboot may also see the company re-establishing itself in the U.S. next year.
Two Samsung's Galaxy S models, the 8- and 16-gigabyte versions, are the sole Android representatives on the list. The sheer volume of Android handsets available on carriers allows consumers to choose from among many, but the Galaxy S sold worldwide.
If Apple had followed its usual release schedule, the iPhone 5 may already reached store shelves, instead of just iOS 5 and iCloud. But the rumor mill has prepared the world for its introduction later this year as its predecessor maintains its momentum.
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