Android, iOS accounted for 87.6% of global smartphone market last year

Android and iOS together accounted for 87.6% of global smartphone shipments in 2012, according to new figures from IDC on Thursday, but the research firm insists there is still room in the market for other players.

Unit volumes reached 722.4 million last year, up 46.1% from 2011. Of that total, 497.1 million were Android handsets, followed by 135.9 million iOS phones (see chart). BlackBerry ranked a distant third, notching up 32.5 million shipments, followed by Symbian and Windows Phone with volumes of 23.9 million and 17.9 million respectively.

Apple and Google's operating systems also dominated during the fourth quarter, with Android shipments reaching 159.8 million units and iOS 47.8 million. Total Q4 smartphone volumes stood at 227.8 million.

Ramon Llamas, research manager at IDC's mobile phone team said Android and Apple's market dominance reached new heights in the fourth quarter.

"Android boasted a broad selection of smartphones, and an equally deep list of smartphone vendor partners," he said, in a research note. "Finding an Android smartphone for nearly any budget, taste, size, and price was all but guaranteed during 2012."

Meanwhile, Apple's latest iPhone found favour with high-end smartphone owners, while cost reductions for its earlier models brought iOS within reach of more cost-conscious end users.

Despite the impressive showing from the two market leaders, one of Llama's colleagues believes Microsoft and BlackBerry can still gain a footing.

"We expect some ground to be made by the new entrants over the coming years," predicted IDC programme manager Ryan Reith. "There is no question the road ahead is uphill for both Microsoft and BlackBerry, but history shows us consumers are open to change.

"Platform diversity is something not only the consumers have asked for, but also the operators," he added.

Source: http://www.totaltele.com/view.aspx?ID=479459

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