The success of computer manufacturing giant Apple as a smartphone producer has been driven by the continued availability of older models of the iPhone.
A new study from Juniper Research indicates the reduced prices of the iPhone 3GS - which was first launched in 2009 - made a significant contribution to the company's dominance of the market.
It was specified 37 million iPhones were shipped in the final three months of 2011, which is an estimated quarter of the total.
Around 149 million smartphones were sold worldwide in the period, but a significant driver in this trend was also the launch of the iPhone 4S.
Within the first three days of the device's launch, four million of the handsets were shifted.
The continued availability of the iPhone 4 and 3GS was described as an effort to challenge the presence of premium and budget phones from rival manufacturer Samsung.
Indeed, although the Korean firm was beaten to the number one spot by Apple, it still increased its market share, which rose to 21.7 per cent in 2011 - a four-fold growth on the 4.7 per cent share recorded in the first quarter of 2010.
"The scale of Samsung's product range is saturating the market. Apple has had to counter Samsung's products like the Galaxy Ace in order to maintain the visibility of its brand," commented research analyst with Juniper Daniel Ashdown.
However, Apple's success could continue in the first half of 2012, as it was recently suggested there could be a summer launch for the iPhone 5.
An insider at motherboard manufacturer Foxconn told unofficial news provider 9to5Mac the device is currently in production.
Based on the five month lead time usually associated with the manufacturing process, it was speculated this could mean a June or July release is a possibility.
Posted by Michael Silverstone