Apple, Google Dominate 92.3 Percent Of The Global Smartphone Market
by Joe White
May 17, 2013
Apple and Google are continuing to dominate the global smartphone market, and in the first quarter of 2013 the two companies were collectively responsible for a huge 92.3 percent of global smartphone operating system shipments. According to data from the International Data Corporation (IDC), Android smartphone manufacturers and Apple together shipped 199.5 million units in Q1 2013, a figure that is up 59.1 percent from the previous year.
It's clear, however, that despite Apple's impressive Q1 2013 handset shipments of 37.4 million, a 6.6 percent year-on-year change leading to a market share of 17.3 percent, Google is nevertheless continuing to dominate the smartphone market. During the same quarter, Android vendors shipped a total of 162.1 million units - an increase of 79.5 percent when compared against figures from Q1 2012, resulting in a market share of 75 percent for Google's OS.
While Windows Phone saw an impressive year-on-year increase of 133.3 percent, its smartphone market share sits at 3.2 percent. BlackBerry OS, Symbian, and Linux take 2.9, 1.0, and 0.6 percent, respectively.
Rumors concerning a low-cost "budget" iPhone have been circulating online for some time, and if Apple does indeed release such a handset you can bet that the company's smartphone OS market share will increase. Android presently occupies a position of vantage since its operating system is available on a wide range of handsets that differ in price, yet if Apple launches a more affordable iPhone targeting the low-cost market, the gap between the two companies could decrease.
We'll keep you updated with further news concerning Apple's smartphone market share as it becomes available.
In the meantime, see: Report: Consumers Spend More On iOS Games Than On Gaming-Optimized Handhelds, Virgin Mobile Offers 15 Percent Discount On Prepaid iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and Tim Cook Speaks Out Ahead Of Senate Hearing On Apple's Offshore Tax Practices.