According to a recent study conducted by MM Research Institute, up to March 31, 2010, iPhone became the biggest winner of the smartphone market in Japan.

It is reported that the sales volume of iPhone shifted to 1.69 million units last year, accounting for 72% of the smartphone market in Japan and raising the total to 2.3 million. The runner-up is HTC which captured 11%, and then Toshiba with 6.8% market share.

The iPhone helped smartphone sales more than double last fiscal year in Japan as shipments of regular mobile phones shrank. Smartphone shipments will probably exceed 3 million units in the 12 months started April 1, even as the overall market is forecast to contract for a third year, reported by business week. However, whether iPhone can keep enjoying success in Japan is uncertain. Android and stiff competition from Nokia and other handset vendors may change the space. "Last year was just the beginning of the smartphone competition, which is why Apple did so well," said Calvin Huang, who rates iPhone assembler Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. "buy" at Daiwa Securities Group Inc. in Taipei. "This year will be much more competitive."