Android and iOS Now Control Over 80% of Smartphone Sales in U.S.

[MacRumors]

Market research firm NPD today issued a press release discussing some of the trends in U.S. smartphone sales in 2011 compared to previous years, noting the strong growth in Android and iOS that has led the two platforms to now represent a commanding 80% of the market between them.

"The competitive landscape for smartphones, which has been reshaped by Apple and Google, has ultimately forced every major handset provider through a major transition," said Ross Rubin, executive director, Connected Intelligence for The NPD Group. "For many of them, 2012 will be a critical year in assessing how effective their responses have been."

The dramatic shift in the smartphone platform landscape is illustrated in a comparison chart (via BGR) showing how market shares have changed each year since 2006.

Back in 2006 before the launch of the iPhone, Research in Motion and Windows Mobile were neck-and-neck atop the smartphone market, with each taking 37% of sales. Palm held down third place with 17% of the market. Five years later, each of those platforms (or their successors) have seen their shares shrink dramatically as iOS and Android have grown substantially.

The past year has seen a continuation of the longer-term trend, with Android's market-leading share growing from 42% of the market to 53% and iOS growing from 21% to 29%. Third-place Research in Motion has experienced a remarkable collapse from its position atop the market just two years ago, falling from 44% in 2009 to 25% in 2010 and dropping again to just 10% so far in 2011.

Article Link: Android and iOS Now Control Over 80% of Smartphone Sales in U.S.

 

[1083296]

owned blackberry, now just android to destroy

 

[Naimfan]

Wow.

I knew RIM was in trouble, but this, combined with their other difficulties this year, makes me think they're not going to be viable for much longer.

iOS seems likely to start to plateau, while Android in all its forms will probably keep growing.

Where will Windows Phone fit in? I don't see it making inroads against iOS, and while it could potentially slow Android's growth, Android has the advantage of a huge existing base.

 

[tinkafoo]

Look out, everybody! Windows Phone 7 DOUBLED in market share from 2010!

 

[profets]

Incredible how the whole market was able to change in just 4-5 years.

I find windows phone very interesting. It's having a difficult time gaining traction in the market, though it's really a well done product. Probably would have been a good idea not to use 'windows' in the name and push it in it's own direction. Maybe it just needs time.

 

[foodog]

owned blackberry, now just android to destroy

Android isn't going anywhere... Carriers will continue to offer BOGO deals on Android based phones and so they will continue to be bought.

IOS is successful despite what Android based handsets do. Apple makes boatloads of money per handset, Android makes boatloads of money on volume.

 

[Thunderhawks]

Wow.

I knew RIM was in trouble, but this, combined with their other difficulties this year, makes me think they're not going to be viable for much longer.

iOS seems likely to start to plateau, while Android in all its forms will probably keep growing.

Where will Windows Phone fit in? I don't see it making inroads against iOS, and while it could potentially slow Android's growth, Android has the advantage of a huge existing base.

If history repeats itself eventually you can have an iphone which runs ios and Android or Windoof via bootcamp.

 

[KnightWRX]

I knew RIM was in trouble, but this, combined with their other difficulties this year, makes me think they're not going to be viable for much longer.

Let's be careful. How much did the market grow ? iOS and Android have made the market much bigger than it was in 2006. Whereas before Smartphones were used in business, they are now being used by consumers in a big way.

This is the problem with percentage based charts. You don't get the whole picture.

 

[TallGuy1970]

iOS seems likely to start to plateau...

I've heard that for the last three years, but I have yet to see it happen. What makes you think this? Because Android is on multiple phones while iOS is only on one?

 

[KnightWRX]

Android isn't going anywhere... Carriers will continue to offer BOGO deals on Android based phones and so they will continue to be bought.

Not the BOGO free crap again iPhone is being offered free, Android also, but then again, there are models of Android that sell for as much as top end iPhones. And frankly, those models are some of the best selling devices (Samsung Galaxy S II being a prime example).

Android is not getting a free ride on better carrier subsidies. The carriers are subsidizing both platforms in equal ways.

----------

I've heard that for the last three years, but I have yet to see it happen. What makes you think this? Because Android is on multiple phones while iOS is only on one?

No, just looking at their market share numbers quarter to quarter, iOS seems to have plateaud in the 20-30% range.

 

[mygoldens]

GO Android!

Android Rocks and Destroys all others!

IOS has flattened already.........

 

[Thunderhawks]

Not the BOGO free crap again iPhone is being offered free, Android also, but then again, there are models of Android that sell for as much as top end iPhones. And frankly, those models are some of the best selling devices (Samsung Galaxy S II being a prime example).

Android is not getting a free ride on better carrier subsidies. The carriers are subsidizing both platforms in equal ways.

----------



No, just looking at their market share numbers quarter to quarter, iOS seems to have plateaud in the 20-30% range.

I hope Apple is able to shake up the providers way of milking us for every half data snipet we use. As we do more on more while on the go, either we need a reasonable Wifi network like gas stations or alternative plans and solutions.

In the end data usage must be unlimited with just basic fees.

 

[slinky199]

The big takeaway is that Android is still proving to be more innovative^.

^According to *LTD*

 

[slapppy]

Free...

Looks like the Free OS given away by Google to every manufacturer on the planet is working to dominate marketshare. It's not winning marketshare because of its merits or superiority in technology. It's winning because its given away by Google to anyone for free.

 

[iSee]

IOS and Android killed them off from weakest to stongest...

Palm has it's big tank in 2007
Windows Mobile in 2008
Blackberry in 2010
...

And then there were two!
It will be interesting to see how the two big guys duke it out.

 

[Stella]

owned blackberry, now just android to destroy

Be careful what you wish for - a one horse race isn't good for anyone. A one race horse tends to get slow and lazy.

 

[KnightWRX]

And then there were two!
It will be interesting to see how the two big guys duke it out.

Let's hope neither ever wins over the other. The last thing we need is a damn OS monopoly again.

 

[gnasher729]

Looks like the Free OS given away by Google to every manufacturer on the planet is working to dominate marketshare. It's not winning marketshare because of its merits or superiority in technology. It's winning because its given away by Google to anyone for free.

It's winning in the "smartphone" market because many dumb phones are getting replaced with cheap Android phones. This is mostly taking away market share from Nokia and moving it into the "smartphone" category. If you look at either _all_ phone sales, or if you look at _high end_ phone sales, the iPhone growth is as strong as ever.

 

[mcarling]

iOS + Android will have over 90% market share in 2012. RIM are circling the drain.

 

[Shrink]

GO Android!

Android Rocks and Destroys all others!

IOS has flattened already.........

I'm kind of new to online terminology, but doesn't the word "trolling" apply to this post?

 

[Yvan256]

Are all those iPods touch and iPads included in those charts?

edit: ok, so the chart is about smartphones but it doesn't depict the reality of iOS vs Android at all without the iPod touch and the iPad.

 

[slinky199]

It's winning in the "smartphone" market because many dumb phones are getting replaced with cheap Android phones. This is mostly taking away market share from Nokia and moving it into the "smartphone" category. If you look at either _all_ phone sales, or if you look at _high end_ phone sales, the iPhone growth is as strong as ever.

[citation needed]

 

[PlipPlop]

Android isn't going anywhere... Carriers will continue to offer BOGO deals on Android based phones and so they will continue to be bought.

IOS is successful despite what Android based handsets do. Apple makes boatloads of money per handset, Android makes boatloads of money on volume.

Where can I get a Sensation or SGSII BOGOF?

 

[ChazUK]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 4.0.1; en-gb; Galaxy Nexus Build/ITL41F) AppleWebKit/534.30 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/534.30)

Amazing to see how the landscape has been transformed by both Apple and Google.

Time for Microsoft to step up to the plate. Can't wait to see what kind of influence the Nokia deal will have (although I would have loved to have seen a Nokia Android handset).

 

[KnightWRX]

Are all those iPods touch and iPads included in those charts?

Are they smartphones ? Because we're discussing smartphones here...

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Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 4.0.1; en-gb; Galaxy Nexus Build/ITL41F) AppleWebKit/534.30 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/534.30)

Amazing to see how the landscape has been transformed by both Apple and Google.

Time for Microsoft to step up to the plate. Can't wait to see what kind of influence the Nokia deal will have (although I would have loved to have seen a Nokia Android handset).

I would have loved for Nokia to actually go somewhere with Maemo/Meego. The N900 was an awesome device when it was introduced. I was pretty pissed that it was incompatible with my carrier's frequencies.