Telecom Lead India: Among the top smartphone operating systems (OS) providers, Android leads the market with 68.8 percent share in 2012 against Apple iOS’ 18.8 percent.
(Please see the complete chart for 2012 and Q4 2012)
While Apple iOS’ market share did not grow from 2011, Google Android OS significantly increased OS market share from 49.2 percent in 2011.
In the fourth quarter of 2012, Android’s market share in smartphone operating systems was 70.1 percent against Apple iOS’ 21 percent.
According to IDC, Android smartphone vendors and Apple shipped 207.6 million units worldwide during Q4, up 70.2 percent from 122.0 million units.
In 2012, Android and iOS combined for 87.6 percent of the 722.4 million smartphones shipped worldwide, up from 68.1 percent of the 494.5 million units.
Apple’s OS growth drivers include: demand for Apple’s iPhone 5, lower prices for the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S.
Android grew thanks strong list of smartphone vendor partners.
IDC says with the recent introductions of two new smartphone platforms it expects some ground to be made by the new entrants over the coming years. The road ahead is uphill for Microsoft and BlackBerry. Platform diversity will be in demand by both consumers and operators.
BlackBerry’s decision to postpone the release of BB10 to 2013 left the platform vulnerable in 2012.
IDC says BlackBerry’s grip on enterprise users has loosened and its popularity within emerging markets has been diminished by the competition.
Microsoft Windows Phone/Windows Mobile made market-beating progress in Q4 and 2012. The relationship has benefited Nokia, which amassed 76 percent of all Windows Phone/Windows Mobile smartphone shipments.
Linux has remained essentially flat from the previous year, with longtime supporters NEC and Panasonic moving to Android and newcomers K-Touch and Haier making up the difference. Linux will bear close observation in 2013 as new smartphones from SailFish, Tizen, and Ubuntu are all scheduled to launch this year.
| Top Five Smartphone Operating Systems, Shipments, and Market Share, 4Q12 (Units in Millions) |
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| Operating System |
4Q12 Unit Shipments |
4Q12 Market Share |
4Q11 Unit Shipments |
4Q11 Market Share |
Year over Year Change |
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| Android | 159.8 | 70.1 | % | 85.0 | 52.9 | % | 88.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| iOS | 47.8 | 21.0 | % | 37.0 | 23.0 | % | 29.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| BlackBerry | 7.4 | 3.2 | % | 13.0 | 8.1 | % | -43.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Windows Phone/ Windows Mobile |
6.0 | 2.6 | % | 2.4 | 1.5 | % | 150.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Linux | 3.8 | 1.7 | % | 3.9 | 2.4 | % | -2.6 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Others | 3.0 | 1.3 | % | 19.5 | 12.1 | % | -84.6 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | 227.8 | 100.0 | % | 160.8 | 100.0 | % | 41.7 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Source: IDC Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker, February 14, 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Top Five Smartphone Operating Systems, Shipments, and Market Share, 2012 (Units in Millions) |
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| Operating System |
2012 Unit Shipments |
2012 Market Share |
2011 Unit Shipments |
2011 Market Share |
Year over Year Change |
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| Android | 497.1 | 68.8 | % | 243.5 | 49.2 | % | 104.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| iOS | 135.9 | 18.8 | % | 93.1 | 18.8 | % | 46.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| BlackBerry | 32.5 | 4.5 | % | 51.1 | 10.3 | % | -36.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Symbian | 23.9 | 3.3 | % | 81.5 | 16.5 | % | -70.7 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Windows Phone/ Windows Mobile |
17.9 | 2.5 | % | 9.0 | 1.8 | % | 98.9 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Others | 15.1 | 2.1 | % | 16.3 | 3.3 | % | -7.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | 722.4 | 100.0 | % | 494.5 | 100.0 | % | 46.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||
| Source: IDC Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker, February 14, 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
