Apple Inc's iPhone has an unexpected hot market in Japan. According to Tokyo-based MM Research, Apple has gained a 37 per cent share in the Japanese smartphone market. The figure is a significant number, considering Apple Inc has a 36 per cent market share in the United States.

Apple's iPad has a 50 per cent share in the Japanese market which is a demonstration of the premium brand's strength in the international market.

According to analysts, Japanese consumers have considerable wealth to support the purchase of premium electronics. Compared to the Chinese customer, the Japanese have a significant advantage in income.

Another factor contributing to Apple's large market share in Japan is the subsidising of costs by Japanese carriers. This attracts Japanese customers to buy Apple products because they are only required to pay a lower upfront fee. Chinese shoppers have to pay for the entire cost of the device.

Meanwhile in China, Apple's market share is not as big as in Japan. Canalys Research Director Nicole Peng reported that Apple Inc has ranked fifth place in China's smartphone market in the second half of 2013. In the latest figures, Apple surpassed local corporations, Xiaomi and ZTE, since Apple has decided to include China as one of the first countries where iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C are released.

While Apple moved up the ranks, other smartphone brands like Lenovo remained in second place with the same market share in 2012. Although Lenovo has reported an increase of product shipments at 64 per cent, its market share remained the same at 13 per cent.

Trailing after Lenovo is China Wireless with 11 per cent market share and an 85 per cent increase in product shipments. Huawei takes the fourth spot, according to the Canalys report, with 9 per cent market share. After Apple, Xiaomi and ZTE are in sixth and seventh places.

iPad Mini available in Apple U.S. Store

Apple Inc's online stores have been down for the past few hours, causing many to wonder about the reason behind the interruption. Rumours began circulating that Apple will make the iPad Mini with retina display available for purchase.

After a lot of checking by Apple observers, the U.S. Apple store is finally back and not surprisingly, now offers the iPad Mini with retina display. Customers interested to buy the latest version of the iPad Mini can now do so on the Web site.

The iPad Mini with Retina display was launched quietly in Apple stores in the iPad Air's launch countries, including Australia, UK and Singapore, among others.

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