Despite only entering the market six months ago, Apple is now the third best selling smartphone manufacturer in the world.

Well according to Canalys anyway, they estimate that Apple captured 7% of the global device market and a whopping 28% of the US market.

It sounds even more impressive when you realise that the figures effectively put Apple ahead of all Windows Mobile device suppliers combined...

What is clear is that the iPhone is certainly capturing a useful share of the market, easily beating Palm and their Treo line, which considering how long they have been in the market is no mean feat.

"In Q4 2007, Canalys estimates that Symbian had a 65% share of worldwide converged device shipments, ahead of Microsoft on 12% and RIM on 11%. By region, Symbian led in APAC and EMEA with 85% and 80% shares respectively, while in North America RIM was the clear leader on 42%, ahead of Apple on 27% and Microsoft at 21%."

More information can be found on the Canalys site.