Android tops RIM in US smartphone market share, Apple's iPhone third
Google's Android surpassed Research in Motion's BlackBerry to become the largest mobile platform at the start of 2011, while Apple's iOS and iPhone took third before the Verizon iPhone 4 was released.
New market data released by comScore on Monday shows that Google Android was the largest mobile platform in the U.S. for the three-month period that concluded with January 2011. Android's growth of 7.7 percent over the previous quarter pushed the Google mobile operating system to 31.2 percent share, past RIM's 30.4 percent share.
RIM slid 5.4 percent while Apple saw its share of the U.S. market go up 0.1 percent, bringing it to 24.7 percent total domestic share. The market share statistics represent active mobile device subscribers, but the numbers apply to the period before Apple launched a CDMA variant of the iPhone 4 on Verizon in early February.
Apple and Google were the only mobile platforms to see quarter-over-quarter gains, as Microsoft's platform share of the U.S. market dipped 1.7 percent to 8 percent. Palm saw its presence slide 0.7 percent to 3.2 percent total.
In terms of hardware, the survey of 30,000 mobile subscribers found that Samsung was the top overall handset maker with a 24.9 percent share, representing 0.7 percent growth from the October 2010 quarter. Apple came in fifth among device makers, with its 7 percent share up 0.6 percent from the previous three-month frame.
In the January period, 234 million Americans ages 13 and older used mobile devices, and 65.8 million people in the U.S. owned smartphones. Smartphone use was up 8 percent from the preceding three-month period, comScore found.
Most mobile subscribers -- 68.1 percent -- said they used text messaging on their mobile device. Just 37 percent of mobile subscribers used a browser, 35.3 percent downloaded applications to their device, and 23.7 percent played games.
ComScore first reported in January that Google Android had surpassed the iPhone in total active U.S. subscribers for the first time. At the time, Google was still behind the market leader, RIM.
New market data released by comScore on Monday shows that Google Android was the largest mobile platform in the U.S. for the three-month period that concluded with January 2011. Android's growth of 7.7 percent over the previous quarter pushed the Google mobile operating system to 31.2 percent share, past RIM's 30.4 percent share.
RIM slid 5.4 percent while Apple saw its share of the U.S. market go up 0.1 percent, bringing it to 24.7 percent total domestic share. The market share statistics represent active mobile device subscribers, but the numbers apply to the period before Apple launched a CDMA variant of the iPhone 4 on Verizon in early February.
Apple and Google were the only mobile platforms to see quarter-over-quarter gains, as Microsoft's platform share of the U.S. market dipped 1.7 percent to 8 percent. Palm saw its presence slide 0.7 percent to 3.2 percent total.
In terms of hardware, the survey of 30,000 mobile subscribers found that Samsung was the top overall handset maker with a 24.9 percent share, representing 0.7 percent growth from the October 2010 quarter. Apple came in fifth among device makers, with its 7 percent share up 0.6 percent from the previous three-month frame.
In the January period, 234 million Americans ages 13 and older used mobile devices, and 65.8 million people in the U.S. owned smartphones. Smartphone use was up 8 percent from the preceding three-month period, comScore found.
Most mobile subscribers -- 68.1 percent -- said they used text messaging on their mobile device. Just 37 percent of mobile subscribers used a browser, 35.3 percent downloaded applications to their device, and 23.7 percent played games.
ComScore first reported in January that Google Android had surpassed the iPhone in total active U.S. subscribers for the first time. At the time, Google was still behind the market leader, RIM.
Comments
Google's Android surpassed Research in Motion's BlackBerry to become the largest mobile platform at the start of 2011....
Wrong!
If it's just smartphone sales (and that's what the chart says), then it cannot by definition be a measurement of the size of the "platform." Even if it was, it's meaningless without including churn and obsolescence, which aren't included.
This is just another recent, dodgy, channel-oriented, inside-industry sales report masquerading as "platform numbers."
Sure, but it's a bit like saying Linux beat the iMac in terms of market share. Are we comparing hardware or platforms? Not disputing Android's success but it seems an odd comparison.
Similar to the PC market, OS X does not sell as many units as Windows, but they're up at the top when you compare hardware to hardware - Dell vs Apple vs Toshiba.
Another way to look at it would be by revenue. How much are consumers willing to spend on handsets? "Android" might sell two $99 handsets for every one $200 handset that Apple sells. That might even the numbers out. At the end of the day, revenue/profit is what powers everything. That would be another metric.
Wrong!
If it's just smartphone sales (and that's what the chart says), then it cannot by definition be a measurement of the size of the "platform." Even if it was, it's meaningless without including churn and obsolescence, which aren't included.
This is just another recent, dodgy, channel-oriented, inside-industry sales report masquerading as "platform numbers."
I?m surprised AI didn?t pick up on that. Where does iOS and others fit in that list when you account for its other mobile offerings?
Sure, but it's a bit like saying Linux beat the iMac in terms of market share. Are we comparing hardware or platforms? Not disputing Android's success but it seems an odd comparison.
useless comparison as ios is only on Apple while android is on many brands.
it's Android vs iOS, and iOS should still be well ahead.
I use iOS because Android sucks; looks and feels like it was programmed by a bunch of dudes in a basement playing D&D between compiles.
And that should mean nothing to anyone else. I like iOS; I think Android sucks. The data mean the same thing - it's personal.
Otherwise give me numbers comparing all Android devices to All iOS devices.
Apple isn't competing against Google... its competing against Motorola, HTC, etc.
And the Android manufactures are competing against each other (as in real dog-fight competition) as much or more than they're competing against Apple.
This is purely a religious, not technological or economic story.
So I expect Apple to at least get to 35%-40% on all carriers, if not on Verizon alone. Maybe more. RIM may go to 20% but I think there is a market for keyboard driven stuff so it will stay there. Android may stay ahead, or be slightly behind the iPhone.
Apple have to reduce prices, though, for sure.
Give me numbers comparing iPhone to any other PHONE (or even all phones manufactured by a single company) and I'll be interested.
Otherwise give me numbers comparing all Android devices to All iOS devices.
The first is illusionary, the second is a bit more valid but nobody is going to include the iPod touch in a phone category - however valid that may seem.
This article is without meaning or perspective and is just troll fodder for fanboys of different sorts.
This is like posting an article on a Christian site denying the existence of God. They just want to start a flame war.
Android may have the lead for now, but just wait till iPhone 4 comes out....
iPhone 4? I can't wait till last year...
I don't think anyone is surprised by Android eventually outgrowing RIM and Apple in smartphone's specifically. What's news is how well Apple continues to do as only one manufacturer with one phone, as opposed to Google which has a version of Android running on every Tom, Dick, and Harry device out there.
And since the Android, RIM, and iOS platforms are also built for tablets, I'd like to know the complete performance in market shares including tablets?
A herd of sheep can also out number a Lion - that herd can have black sheep, white sheep, gray sheep, small and big - doesn't mean I would want to be a sheep though!
I don't think anyone is surprised by Android eventually outgrowing RIM and Apple in smartphone's specifically. What's news is how well Apple continues to do as only one manufacturer with one phone, as opposed to Google which has a version of Android running on every Tom, Dick, and Harry device out there.
And since the Android, RIM, and iOS platforms are also built for tablets, I'd like to know the complete performance in market shares including tablets?
Most people would see tablets and phones as distinct categories. I estimate that iOS is selling more than Android, from last Dec. Just about.
I wouldn't mind Apple creating more variety of phones though. Differnt materials, different size, different color, etc, just like iPod.