Apple Overtakes Samsung as the Leader in Global Smartphone Sales

Apple has officially overtaken Samsung as the leader in global smartphone sales. In the fourth quarter, Apple reported its best results ever -- selling 74.8 million units, helped by the release of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Seeing 56% growth in China and 88% growth in the U.S., Apple finished the year with 20.4% of the smartphone market. Meanwhile, Samsung saw its market share drop to 19.9% in the fourth quarter of 2014 from 29.5% in the same quarter the year before. Samsung is trying to win back consumers, recently unveiling its new Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge smartphones. However, Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Brian White doesn't expect the new phones to pose too much of a threat to Apple, according to TheStreet's Gary Krakow.