iPhone 4 surpasses BlackBerry Bold 2 to become world's most widely available handset

While most mobile market reports tend to detail the number of handsets making their way into consumer's pockets, making those sales relies on a strong presence at retail.

The battle for shelf space is as arguably important as any other for OEMs, with Strategy Analytics' latest SpecTRAX report predictably crowning Apple's iPhone 4 as the most popular handset in shops around the globe.

What's surprising is, until the most recent quarter, that particular honour lay with the BlackBerry Bold 2.

Top of the shops

The body's numbers claim retail space dedicated to the former top dog - which had sat at the top of the tree since Q2 2010 - has plummeted of late, with RIM's handset falling to the #6 position.

Strategy Analytics claims the Bold 2 has suffered due to "significant competition in the European market from apple, Samsung and a rejuventated Nokia".

However, Apple is the party with the most to celebrate, with iPhone 4 16GB becoming the first device from the firm to hit top spot.

Following closely behind are Nokia's N8, both the 8GB and 16GB editions of Samsung's Galaxy S, and the 32GB iPhone 4.

[source: Strategy Analytics (PDF)]