With the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c available in China, Apple Inc.'s market share in the country has increased but not by much.

According to research firm International Data Corporation (IDC), the iPhone 5s encountered strong demand from the Chinese consumers during the fourth quarter of 2013. The 2013 fourth quarter was the first full quarter after Apple released the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s. Apple launched the two new iPhones on Sept. 20, the same day as other major markets such as France, United Kingdom, and United States.

Despite the "strong demand," Apple's market share grew by one percentage point in comparison to 2013's third quarter. As a result, the iPhone company's market share grew from 6 percent to 7 percent. With the 7 percent market share, Apple finished as the fifth-largest smartphone vendor in China.

Apple was no match for Android devices, which are cheaper to sell than iPhones.

The top smartphone vendor in China was Samsung, although the company does sell high-end and low-end devices. Samsung finished the fourth quarter with 19 percent of the market share, just 6 percentage points ahead of its second place challenger.

At second place, Lenovo accounted for 13 percent of the market share.

The competition was relatively narrow for third and fourth place. Shenzhen-based Yulong Computer Telecommunication Scientific's Coolpad smartphones finished third ahead of Huawei Technologies, which garnered 11 percent and 10 percent of the market share during the fourth quarter, respectively.

As PC Mag noted, Apple could see a boost in its market share during the early months of 2014 due to its new agreement with the world's largest mobile carrier, China Mobile. According to reports, China Mobile has approximately 760 million subscribers, and the figure could grow with the introduction of the latest Apple smartphones. The iPhone 5s went on sale with China Mobile on Dec. 12.

"We know there are many China Mobile customers and potential new customers who are anxiously awaiting the incredible combination of iPhone on China Mobile's leading network," noted China Mobile Chairman Xi Guohua.

"Apple has enormous respect for China Mobile and we are excited to begin working together," said Apple CEO Tim Cook in a statement in December. "China is an extremely important market for Apple and our partnership with China Mobile presents us the opportunity to bring iPhone to the customers of the world's largest network."

According to Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, via CNET, the deal between Apple and China Mobile could result in 17 million iPhones sold during 2014.

Apple's smartphones have been available in China through carriers China Telecom and China Unicom.

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