Apple Holds Over 40 Percent Of US Smartphone Subscribers, But Samsung Is Gaining
by Joe White
November 6, 2013
The latest data on the U.S. smartphone market shows that Apple still reigns supreme, holding a 40.6 percent share of subscribers at the end of the September quarter. But runner-up Samsung, which holds a 24.9 percent share, is gaining on the Cupertino, Calif. company.
In terms of smartphone subscribers, then, Apple's share grew by 0.7 percent during the September quarter, resulting in its share increasing from 39.9 percent to the aforementioned 40.6 percent, research firm comScore explains.
Samsung, on the other hand, grew by a rather more impressive 1.2 percent during the same period, and as such its market share increased from 23.7 percent to 24.9 percent. If this trajectory continues, Samsung will indeed edge closer to Apple - though of course, it would take the South Korean company some time to threaten the iPhone-maker's dominant share of U.S. smartphone subscribers.
Furthermore, since Apple's new iPhone handsets, the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, reached consumers in September, the company's share of this market is expected to further increase throughout the course of the December quarter.
As you can see, it's bad news for HTC and Motorola, both of which saw a decrease in their share of U.S. smartphone subscribers; at the same time, LG's share remained the same.
Concerning smartphone software, Google's share of the U.S. smartphone OS market was seen to decrease again during the September quarter, and its Android saw a percentage decrease of 0.2 during the three-month period. Apple, on the other hand, saw its iOS increase by 0.7 percent.
However, with a 51.8 percent share of the U.S. smartphone OS market, Android is continuing to occupy the No. 1 position in this respect. Apple comes in at second-place with a market share of 40.6 percent.
RIM's smartphone operating system lost 0.6 percent of its market share during the period. Microsoft saw modest growth, while Symbian saw no growth whatsoever.
Given that Apple's new iPhones are now available on the market, it'll be interesting to see how these figures develop over the course of the present quarter, which ends in December. Though Apple chief executive officer Tim Cook said last month that he expected it to be an "iPad Christmas" this year, it looks like an "iPhone Christmas" could equally be in the cards.
We'll keep you updated with further information as we receive it.
In the meantime, see: Apple Enables Passbook Gift Cards In The Apple Store App For International Countries, The Minions Go On A Destructive Shopping Spree In Despicable Me: Minion Rush, and Rdio For iOS Updated With New Recommendations Engine And Redesigned Stations Player.
