Generator Research has released a report that says Apple will grow its share of the global smartphone market to 40% by 2013, likely at the expense of Nokia, which currently occupies the top spot with a 40% share. Generator expects Nokia to drop to 20% by 2013.

Andrew Sheehy, head of research at Generator, said in a press release: "Our analysis is that the iPhone and App Store constitute a vertical platform for the delivery of advanced mobile services that will be developed in a similar manner to how Apple developed its digital music platform, which included the iPod and the iTunes Music Store.

"Outsiders are rewriting the mobile industry's rulebook for how to deliver mobile services and the new rule #1 is that you need a fully-integrated service development platform that has a rich API which is open to third party developers on favourable commercial terms. Right now, Apple has the best platform and the best-looking forward roadmap."

Mr. Sheehy added that he expects Apple to ship as many as 77 million iPhones in 2013, likely in a range of different models, "each addressing different market segments and the App Store will have developed to the point where third party developers have access to network assets that will allow them to write programs that can send messages and establish voice calls between different iPhones."