Apple reclaims lead in U.S. smartphone market (2)

Meanwhile, around 13 percent of new iPhone 5 owners switched from Android devices and some 6 percent from Blackberry phones.

However, research by Kantar Worldpanel ComTech found that Apple doesn't have the same success in Europe where Android phones still take the lead.

The research company noted that Germany is a tough market for Apple as its market share fell by 5.1 percent over the past year and Android phones accounted for 73.9 percent of smartphone sales. The Samsung Galaxy S3, one of iPhone's major competitors, took almost a quarter of smartphone sales in Germany over the past 12 weeks.

Among the other European countries covered by Kantar Worldpanel ComTech's research, namely France, Italy, Spain and Britain, iPhone is enjoying share gains in terms of sales, but cannot catch up with Android devices.

Recommended Features: Vibrant Opportunities amid Transition From 'Made in China' to 'Created in China' A Journey to Cultural Renaissance The Vision of A Pillar Industry China: A Fast-growing Force in IPR IPR in China: Local Roots Bearing Global Fruits A Decade of Fastest Development Eastern Boom Lightens Western Gloom Chinese firms 'potential Trojan horses'？