Nokia loses mobile internet crown to Apple

Samsung also surpasses ailing Finnish firm in on-the-go web access

Apple has overtaken Nokia to become the world's top mobile platform, say analysts.

Research firm StatCounter reported that for the the first time on its Global Stats study, Nokia was not the top brand in terms of overall mobile internet usage between January 2012 and 2013.

Apple users were responsible for 25.86 percent of mobile traffic in 2012. The figure is actually down from 2011, when Apple devices accounted for a 28.67 percent slice of mobile web use.

Nokia, meanwhile, saw its share of the mobile market plummet from 37.67 percent to just 22.15 percent.

"Apple has been handed the number one spot despite its falling usage share," noted StatCounter chief executive Aodhan Cullen.

"A decline in Nokia usage from January 2012 to January 2013 means the Finnish company ceded the top spot to Apple."

The big winner on the year was Samsung, which was also able to surge past Nokia in market share. The Korean firm saw its share of the market climb from 14.84 percent to 22.69 percent of all mobile traffic.

That the Nokia and Samsung saw a reversal of their fortunes in 2012 is hardly a surprise. Through much of year, Samsung reported extremely strong sales for its Galaxy mobile platform. The firm rode the success of its Android lines to post record profits and set new sales marks.

Nokia, meanwhile, did not get its big entry into market until late in the year. Though well-received, the Windows Phone-powered Lumia 920 had but little time to make an impact.