ABI Research has released data showing growth for iPhone is lagging behind total growth for the smart phone market.  Wall Street Journal’s Digits blog reports that research from the firm shows Apple’s device had about 16.6 percent of worldwide smart phone sales in the fourth quarter of 2009.  That s compared to more than 18 percent the previous quarter.  The blog says iPhone sales overall grew in the quarter, but not as fast as the smart phone category.   Apple experienced 18 percent growth based on 8.7 million iPhones sold while the global smart phone market saw a record quarter on 26 percent growth.  Digits points to competition from devices as the possible cause, including Motorola’s Google Android-powered phone as well as brisk sales of nearly 5 million units for Nokia’s Oyj.  Read more from Wall Street Journal.