100 MILLION. Samsung's Galaxy S series unit sales hit a new milestone. Photo from Samsung Tomorrow Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/samsungtomorrow/8379134928

SEOUL, South Korea - Samsung Electronics said Monday, January 14, that global sales of its flagship Galaxy S smartphones had topped 100 million since the first model debuted in 2010, cementing its dominant position over US rival Apple.

The original Galaxy S phone, launched in June 2010, sold 25 million units, the South Korean electronics giant said in a statement.

The Galaxy S II, launched in April 2011, racked up sales of more than 40 million, and the S III has reached the same volume since coming on the market in May last year.

For Samsung, 2012 was a watershed year that saw it take a giant bite out of Apple as it carved out a dominant position in the global mobile computing market.

Samsung saw its share of the lucrative smartphone market surge to 31.3% in the third quarter of 2012, up from just 3.3% in late 2009.

It extended its lead over Apple as the top maker of smartphones worldwide, according to research firm IHS iSuppli, which gave Samsung 28% of the market in 2012, up from 20% the previous year.

Apple's share rose to 20% in 2012 from 19%, IHS said.

The two tech giants have been embroiled in a long-running patent battle with each accusing the other of stealing designs and technology. - Agence France-Presse

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