Samsung 'grabs double-digit share' of European smartphone market

Korean manufacturer Samsung saw its share of the western European smartphone market enter double figures for the first time during the third quarter of the year, according to reports.

Broadcaster Arirang said figures from research firm Strategy Analytics show the company had a 10.9 per cent slice of the sector between July and October.

This left it behind Nokia, Apple and Research in Motion (RIM), the maker of the BlackBerry.

However, Strategy Analytics said that with RIM only three percentage points ahead of Samsung, the Korean company has a "good chance" of moving up to third in the table over the coming months.

It has already taken the top spot for smartphone sales in Austria, the research firm noted.

Samsung produces a range of smartphone, including those with Android operating systems compatible with VoIP services.

Worldwide, the company employs around 263,000 people and in 2007, its net sales topped $174.2 billion (£109.7 billion).