Samsung beat Apple to the top position in the smartphone market in the third quarter taking a 23.8 percent share of the global market to Apple's 14.6 percent, according to data released Friday by research firm Strategy Analytics.

Nokia was third with a 14.4 percent share.

Apple became the world's largest smartphone vendor by volume with 18.5 percent market share in the second quarter, ahead of Samsung and Nokia, according to Strategy Analytics. Samsung also overtook Nokia in the second quarter to become the world's second largest smartphone vendor with a 17.5 percent share to Nokia's 15.2 percent.

Samsung shipped 27.8 million units, up from 7.5 million units in the same quarter last year, while Apple shipped 17.1 million units as customers and operators waited for the fourth-quarter launch of the iPhone 4S amidst stiff competition from Samsung's Galaxy S2 model, and volatile economic conditions in several key countries, Strategy Analytics said.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Global smartphone shipments grew 44 percent annually to reach a record 117 million units in the third quarter, the research firm said.

Apple launched the iPhone 4S on Oct. 14, and said it had sold over four million units in just three days after the launch.

Samsung's rise has been driven by a blend of elegant hardware designs, popular Android services, memorable sub-brands and extensive global distribution, according to Strategy Analytics. In the third quarter of last year, Samsung had a 9.3 percent share to Apple's 17.4 percent. Nokia, which had a 32.7 percent share in the third quarter of last year, has been losing share because of competition from Apple and phones running the Android operating system, as it transitioned to the Windows Phone operating system.

Apple and Samsung are caught up in patent litigation relating to their smartphones and tablets in a number of countries

John Ribeiro covers outsourcing and general technology breaking news from India for The IDG News Service. Follow John on Twitter at @Johnribeiro. John's e-mail address is john_ribeiro@idg.com