Galaxy S3

Samsung Electronics this morning announced that sales of the company’s Galaxy S III smartphones have topped 20 million units since the phone’s release in late May. The milestone was reached three times faster than sales of an equal number of the Galaxy S and six times faster than sales of the Galaxy S2, which together have total sales of more than 50 million units since the first Galaxy S was sold in 2010.

Sales of the Galaxy S III topped 6 million in Europe, while Asia gobbled up 4.5 million and the United States accounted for 4 million units. The Galaxy S III became the best-selling smartphone in the U.S. in August, topping the iPhone 4S from Apple Inc. But that milestone is not expected to survive next week’s expected launch of the iPhone 5.

One Apple analyst expects sales of 10 million iPhone 5 devices in the first week of availability. The iPhone 4S sold 4 million units in its first three days of availability, so that estimate is probably not far off the mark.

Apple also has won a jury verdict against Samsung for infringing on Apple’s designs. The verdict did not include the Galaxy S III, but Apple has subsequently sought an injunction against further sales of the Galaxy S III in the U.S. Win or lose, Apple’s action will give potential buyers of the Samsung phone pause.