Wow. If NPD is correct, the 4S has given Apple a massive surge in US smartphone sales:
http://gigaom.com/2012/01/09/iphone-breathing-down-the-neck-of-android-in-u-s/
I think this surge is just a little too big to be sustainable, and I wouldn't be surprised if Apple settles down to a little under 40% in a quarter or two (i.e., a lot of these sales are upgraders, rather than new users), but it sure demonstrates that the powerful position Android has quickly seized is not unassailable.
The other interesting mobile sales news of the past week is that while Samsung continues to grow rapidly, other Android OEMs such as HTC and Motorola are actually shrinking. If this trend continues, Google may find their power over the Android platform will start slipping into Samsung's hands.
Also, remember that NPD's numbers are unit sales, while comScore's numbers are installed base. So don't be surprised if it takes a few months for a dramatic shift in the former to be seen in the latter.
"The worst part about these reviews is they are [subjective]--and their scores often depend on how drunk you got the media at a Street Fighter event." — Mona Hamilton, Capcom Senior VP of Marketing
*Image indefinitely borrowed from BrainBoxLtd without his consent.
