The iPhone has proved extremely popular

The popularity of Apple's iPhone is continuing to buck the fall in global mobile phone sales, a study has found.

Shipments of the iPhone totalled 5.2 million units between April and June, a six-fold increase on a year earlier, according to Strategy Analytics.

This compares with an industry-wide decline of 8% to 273 million units.

While sector-wide sales were down for the third consecutive quarter, the rate of decline slowed from the -14% recorded in the first quarter of 2009.

Mixed picture

Apple was not the only manufacturer to see sales rise during the latest quarter.

PHONE MARKET SHARE Nokia 37.8% Samsung 19.2% LG 10.9% Motorola 5.4% Sony Ericsson 5.1% Others 21.6% Source: Strategy Analytics

Shipments at Samsung were up 14% from a year earlier to 52.3 million units, while LG rose 8% to 29.8 million.

However, Nokia saw shipments decline 15% to 103.2 million handsets, Sony Ericsson fell 43% to 13.8 million, and Motorola shipments dropped 47% to 14.8 million.

The report came as Motorola reported an unexpected profit for its second quarter ending on 4 July.

The firm made a net profit of $26m (£16m), up from $4m a year earlier, thanks to major cost reductions including 8,000 job cuts so far this year.

Market stabilising

Despite the iPhone's strong rise in sales, Strategy Analytics said it still has only a 2% share of the global market.

This compares with the 37.8% stake held by market leader Nokia.

Samsung remains in second place on 19.2%, followed by LG on 10.9%, Motorola on 5.4%, and Sony Ericsson at 5.1%.

Strategy Analytics said the global mobile phone market was now "showing signs of stabilisation".

"The worst of the handset recession may be behind us," it said.