SAMSUNG HAS taken the lead in Ireland’s mobile phone market for the first time, new data shows. According to figures from GFK Retail and Technology, the manufacturer’s handsets accounted for 37.3 per cent of Ireland’s mobile market in September.

Samsung was also the top smartphone brand during the month, at 47.6 per cent of the market, the second consecutive month it has occupied the number one spot in this segment.

Gary Twohig, general manager of Samsung Mobile Ireland, said the group had “ambitious plans” and was “confident of maintaining our strong growth in Ireland through the busy Christmas period and into 2012”.

Samsung is going head to head with Apple’s iPhone around the world as both brands compete for the number one spot in the mobile market. Samsung and Apple have sued each other in nine countries, spanning more than 20 cases, since April.

The company has already sought a sales ban on the iPhone 4S in French and Italian courts, claiming it infringes some of its patents.