With huge initial sales of the iPhone 3G, which came out in July, and its expansion into more countries outside the United States, Apple shipped 6.9 million iPhones in the third quarter, surpassing Blackberry's 6.1 million in sales, Information Week reported Saturday.

Apple's 17.3 percent worldwide market share boosted it above Blackberry, made by Research in Motion, or RIM, which recorded a 15.3 percent share. The No. 1 smart phone maker remained Nokia with 18.9 percent of the third-quarter market.

Apple will quickly face a new challenge from RIM, however. Smart phone retailers say they expect two new Blackberry models, called "Bold" and "Storm," to post impressive sales when they debut this month, Information Week reported.