(Telecompaper) The global mobile phone market grew by 1.9 percent to 482.5 million units in the fourth quarter of 2012, compared to 473.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, according to IDC. Shipments for the full year were generally flat in 2012, down 0.2 percent on over 1.7 billion units shipped in 2011. Smartphone shipments rose by 36.4 percent to 219.4 million units in the fourth quarter, accounting for a record 45.5 percent of all mobile phones. For the full year, smartphone shipments rose by 10.1 percent to 545.2 million units. Samsung ranked first for mobile phones and smartphones in the fourth quarter, shipping 111.2 million mobile phones for a 23 percent market share and 63.7 million smartphones for a 29 percent market share. Nokia was the second biggest vendor of mobile phones at 86.3 million units for a 17.9 percent market share, but did not place in the top five for smartphones. Apple was third for mobile phones, shipping 47.8 million units for a 17.9 percent share, and second for smartphones, selling 47.8 million units for a 21.8 percent share.