{www.idc.com}
IDC reports overall worldwide smartphone shipments reach 300 mln
* Android (GOOG) reached a new record for market share during 2Q14, nearly doubling its share from just three years ago. Samsung once again led the charge, accounting for 29.3% of all Android-powered shipments, down from its 40.0% share of two years ago. * iOS (AAPL) may have reached its lowest quarterly volume for the year, if history is any indication. For the past two years, third quarter volumes received a boost from shipments of its new devices towards the end of the quarter, resulting in slightly higher volumes compared to the second quarter. Whether or not this happens again this year remains to be seen, especially with the anticipated arrival of large-screen iPhones. * Windows Phone (MSFT) volumes declined from a year ago, but compared to the previous quarter, it showed slight improvement, making it the clear number 3 smartphone platform. Following three consecutive quarters of sequential decline, BlackBerry (BBRY) volumes have rebounded slightly from the previous quarter, but remain 78.0% lower than shipment levels from a year ago.