Windows is challenging RIM for 3rd place in Europe, according to the latest smartphone sales data from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech. This comes as sales of low-end Windows Phone models like the Nokia 610 drive sales in key markets, resulting in growth rates of 6.6 percent in Italy, 3.5 percent in France and 2.3 percent in the UK in the weeks to 02 September. Dominic Sunnebo, global consumer insight director at Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, said that Windows was making steady progress in major European markets and is likely to overtake BlackBerry for 3rd place in the European smartphone OS table by end-2012. He added that Windows now holds a double-digit market share in Italy (10.4%), a first in the European market. Samsung has a smartphone share across the big five European markets of 48 percent. Smartphone penetration is now at 57.6 percent in the UK, with smartphones taking 80.4 percent of all sales in the latest 12 weeks.
