Google’s Android operating system has 79.3pc of the global smartphone market, according to the latest figures from IDC. Apple’s iOS is in decline as the world awaits the next iPhone models and Microsoft’s Windows Phone OS is in No 3 position, thanks mainly to Nokia.
According to IDC vendors shipped 236.4m smartphones, up from 156.2m units last year.
“The iOS decline in the second quarter aligns with the cyclicality of iPhone,” says Ramon Llamas, Research Manager with IDC’s Mobile Phone team.
“Without a new product launch since the debut of the iPhone 5 nearly a year ago, Apple’s market share was vulnerable to product launches from the competition. But with a new iPhone and revamped iOS coming out later this year, Apple is well-positioned to re-capture market share.”
Movers and shakers in the smartphone OS world
According to IDC Android maintained its leadership position, with strong contributions from Samsung and its Galaxy S4. Not to be overlooked were LG and Chinese vendors Huawei, Lenovo, and ZTE, which each recorded double-digit shipment volumes in the millions.
iOS finished the quarter as the clear number 2 operating system, showing that, even without new product launches, demand remains strong. In addition, Apple added new mobile operators to its camp, boosting short-term volumes and cementing long-term end-user relationships.
Windows Phone posted the largest year-over-year increase among the top five smartphone platforms, and in the process reinforced its position as the number 3 smartphone operating system. Driving this result was Nokia, which released two new smartphones and grew its presence at multiple mobile operators. Nokia accounted for 81.6pc of all Windows Phone smartphone shipments during 2Q13.
BlackBerry saw its market share decline during the quarter, reaching levels not seen in the history of IDC’s Mobile Phone Tracker.
Linux, with few vendors supporting the open source platform and virtually no global presence, barely scraped together a single percentage point of market share during the quarter.
“Last quarter we witnessed Windows Phone shipments surpassing BlackBerry and the trend has continued into the second quarter,” said Ryan Reith, Program Manager with IDC’s Mobility Tracker Programs.
“Nokia has clearly been the driving force behind the Windows Phone platform and we expect that to continue. However, as more and more vendors enter the smartphone market using the Android platform, we expect Windows Phone to become a more attractive differentiator in this very competitive market segment,” Reith said.
