Apple.com/uk is UK's Second Most Popular Online Shop

Tracking firm says that Apple will go head-to-head with Amazon this shopping season.

There are plenty of etailers around that do big business in the United Kingdom. However, when it comes to popularity, it seems none other than Apple has snagged the number two spot. Experian Hitwise reports that Apple has jumped six places in its Hot Shops list since the summertime. In August, the company sat at number eight. However, just a few months later, it's ahead of Argos.co.uk. This represents the first time ever that Argos has been pushed out of its number two spot. Experian reckons this is due to the iPhone 4S launch as well as Steve Jobs' passing, both of which saw Apple's web traffic increase five-fold this quarter.

"The tech world mourned the death of Steve Jobs this quarter but Apple goes on, and the launch of the iPhone 4S has helped push Apple to its highest ever ranking in the Hot Shops list," James Murray, Marketing Research Analyst at Experian Hitwise said. "Amazon UK and Apple are now the two biggest brands in online retail, and this Christmas they will go head-to-head in the gadget wars as the Amazon Kindle contends with the Apple iPad. Our data shows that iPad is the more popular gadget online but the Kindle’s lower price point may entice shoppers this Christmas."

However, Apple was not the only company that jumped several spots up on the Hot Shops list. Other 'fast-movers' were ASDA Direct, which is up 23 places, Very.co.uk, which up 19 spots, and Ticketmaster, which jumped by 16 places. As for the number one spot, it was once again won by Amazon UK. Hitwise says Amazon has been the UK's number one shop since the website tracking firm started its Hot Shops list five years ago. It actually appears twice in the top 10 list, once as Amazon.co.uk and again at number eight as Amazon.com.