Nokia has surpassed HTC and Samsung to become the largest single manufacturer of Windows Phone handsets, according to market research firm Strategy Analytics. In spite of the fact that Nokia's Lumia lineup was not available throughout the fourth quarter, Strategy Analytics claims that it has taken 33 percent of all Windows Phone sales.

The company also claims that the Windows Phone OS grew by 36 percent over its third quarter performance, with total sales of 2.7 million handsets.

If these numbers are accurate—official figures from Microsoft and Nokia are still lacking—they should be modestly encouraging for the Finnish firm: the Windows Phone market is growing, and Nokia's handsets seem to be desirable.

With new models and new markets likely to be announced at next weeks's Mobile World Congress, Nokia looks well-placed to both expand its slice of the Windows Phone pie, and make the pie itself bigger.

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