Smartphone Leaders: Samsung, Apple, Huawei

NEW YORK (TheStreet) - The latest worldwide smartphone sales numbers have been tallied by IDC, and some Asian newcomers have made it into the top five - while pushing out some famous contenders in the process.

According to fourth-quarter, 2012 figures from the tech research firm, Chinese manufacturers Huawei and ZTE - along with Japanese giant Sony (SNE) have made it onto the list of top five smartphone sales, while HTC and LG have dropped down a few notches.

In the latest numbers, Samsung has increased its lead over number two Apple (AAPL). Samsung shipped 63.7 million units for a 29% market share in the fourth quarter. That's a year-over-year change of 76%. Apple garnered 47.8 million units for 21.8% of the market and a year-over-year 29% gain. In third place was Huawei, which shipped 10.8 million units for a 4.9% share and a whopping year-over year increase of 90%.

The two newcomers on the list are Sony and ZTE - Sony with 9.8 million units (4.5% market share), up 56% year-over-year, and close behind in fifth place is ZTE, which registered 9.5 million units shipped for a 4.3% share (a year-over-year increase of 48%).

But, more familiar vendor names still appear in IDC's list of 2012, year-end smartphone totals:

Samsung: 215.8 million units (39.6% market share)

Apple: 136.8 million units (25.1%)

Nokia (NOK): 35.1 million units (6.4%)

HTC: 32.6 million units (6.0%)

Research in Motion (RIMM): 32.5 million units (6.0%)

Year over year, Samsung is up 129%, with Apple up 47%, while Nokia is down 55% and HTC down 25%. RIM shipments dropped 36%.

--Written by Gary Krakow in New York.

>To submit a news tip, send an email to: [e-mail].

Gary Krakow is TheStreet's senior technology correspondent.