Apple"s iPhone 3G passed Research In Motion"s (RIM) BlackBerry to take second place in third-quarter global smartphone rankings, according to a report by market researcher Canalys. Apple also edged out Microsoft in smartphone OSs, the report said.
A record high 39.9 million smartphones were shipped globally in the July through September period, up 28 percent over the same time last year, according to Canalys. Smartphones now represent 13 percent of the total mobile handset market, up from 11 percent in the second quarter.
The devices, which combine computing functions of a personal digital assistant (PDA) with a mobile phone, have gained popularity as companies offer new functions, such as on board cameras, music players, touchscreens and speedier Web browsing.