Based on studies from ABI Research, Apple’s iPhone market share losing from 18.1 percent in the third quarter to 16.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009. This decline occurred despite the share of Apple’s sales record of 8.7 million iPhones in the fourth quarter, or up 18 percent from the previous quarter.

The decrease was likely due to the emergence of mobile phones such as Motorola’s Android Droid and increased sales by Nokia.

Nokia still leading the mobile market with a share of 37.7 percent. Samsung was second with a share of 20.5 percent, 10.1 percent of Motorola, Sony Ericsson 4.3 percent, 3.6 percent and Motorola. Despite having a large enough share of the smartphone, Apple does not enter into the top five mobile phone sales worldwide, since the number of smartphones is smaller than the number of phones sold.

Currently Motorola and Apple are at odds in the courts and the International Trade Commission patent infringement claims from both sides.