Telecom Lead Asia: Mobile users will download nearly 36
billion apps in 2012. Android and iOS will make up for 83 percent of app
downloads. Windows Phone will see 2 percent of downloads.
Although Windows Phone lags behind RIM’s BlackBerry and
even Nokia’s Symbian, we shouldn’t ignore the fact that the two percent that we
forecast for 2012 would be twice the share the platform achieved last year.
Microsoft is gaining momentum, but its starting point is frustratingly low,”
said ABI Research associate Lim Shiyang.
There are four factors undermining Windows Phone’s app
growth. First, the small device market share. Second, Windows Marketplace’s
roll-out has taken a long time. Third, Microsoft has also been slow to enable
in-app purchasing. Fourth, there have been no tablets built on the platform.
According to many developers, Windows Phone is actually a
rather appealing platform. The arrival of Windows 8 tablets, as well as Windows
Phone’s upgrade to the Apollo iteration, should give it a boost, since
developers can reuse their code to launch on various screen sizes.
Android overtakes Apple with 44% share of mobile app downloads
in Q2 2011
Recently, ABI Research said the Google promoted Android
has overtaken Apple’s iOS to become the market share leader in Q2 2011 in the
mobile application downloads. The market shares of Android and iOS were 44 and
31 percent, respectively.
Android’s open source strategy is the main factor for its success.
Being a free platform has expanded the Android device
install base, which in turn has driven growth in the number of third party
multi-platform and mobile operator app stores. These conditions alone explain
why Android is the new leader in the mobile application market, according to
ABI Research.
