iPhone Continues to Hold Off Android in U.S. Smartphone Market Share

[MacRumors]

Last month, we pointed to research from media firm Nielsen indicating that Apple's iPhone had finally surpassed Research in Motion's BlackBerry operating system in smartphone market share in the United States in October. In a follow-up post yesterday, Nielsen released numbers for November indicating that Apple has widened its lead over Research in Motion, which is now in danger of falling behind Google's Android operating system.

It has been a remarkable turnaround over the past six months, with Apple's share of new smartphone purchases in the U.S. holding relatively steady in the ~26% range for purchases over each preceding six-month period while Android has surged to over 40% and Research in Motion has fallen to under 20%. As recently as July, all three operating systems had been tightly clustered in the 25-28% range.

In another look at market share among the various smartphone platforms, Net Applications has released its browser usage numbers for December 2010, which examine worldwide browser usage and incorporate all iOS devices instead of just the iPhone as limited by smartphone studies.

In its study, Net Applications finds that iOS usage surged across the board between November and December as new customers came on board in the holiday season, with iOS usage share growing 24.3% month-to-month to claim 1.69% of total Internet browser usage. The iPad led Apple's charge with 33.3% share growth, with the iPod claiming 25% growth and the iPhone 20% growth. While Android experienced a slightly higher rate of share growth of 29%, its overall share of 0.40% remained far behind that of iOS, illustrating the impact of Apple's broader iOS ecosystem that extends well beyond smartphones.

Article Link: iPhone Continues to Hold Off Android in U.S. Smartphone Market Share

 

[NebulaClash]

Bottom line:

Android will have a large share of the market.

iOS will have a large share of the market.

Blackberry is in trouble.

Windows who?

 

[theheadguy]

While the title sounds really nice, it looks like it won't hold off Android for long... unless they do something like widen carrier availability.

 

[elppa]

It is funny how the popular perception for months has been that Android has already overtaken iOS in the US.

Now obviously that day will come very soon, but it is funny how the perception differs from reality.

In Europe I believe iOS still leads over Android. And it a few other territories as well. And of course the other platforms (notably Symbian and Blackberry) are strong in their areas as well.

Apple is playing the platform game with iOS in set top boxes, media players and tablets. In terms tackling the whole eco system Android has yet to really get started.

 

[Žalgiris]

It's funny to read "iphone continues ... android". Phone vs OS again?

 

[rorschach]

"For Apple to win, Microsoft Google doesn't have to lose."

 

[elppa]

Windows who?

I still think many smartphone OEMs without an OS of their own will be keen to support Windows Phone 7. Because it keeps Google honest and innovative.

If their was one licensed platform with market dominance (Android) then all the OEMs really have left to compete with is how thin they can make their margins (see the PC market).

 

[jclardy]

While the title sounds really nice, it looks like it won't hold off Android for long... unless they do something like widen carrier availability.

And then what?

Both platforms are still gaining market share, which means that both are flourishing. If Android finally does overtake iOS in total market share then iOS will still be right behind them, they are not going to magically drop to 0% once surpassed by Android.

 

[aristotle]

It's funny to read "iphone continues ... android". Phone vs OS again?

Maybe because Android is basically non-existent on non-phone devices up to this point?

If you wanted to compare iOS to Android, that would make Apple look even more dominant when you consider that iOS is on iPod Touch, iPad, iPhones and now the new Apple TV.

 

[NKT]

And then what?

Both platforms are still gaining market share, which means that both are flourishing. If Android finally does overtake iOS in total market share then iOS will still be right behind them, they are not going to magically drop to 0% once surpassed by Android.

It's all about ePeen...

 

[NebulaClash]

It is funny how the popular perception for months has been that Android has already overtaken iOS in the US.

Popular perception is formed by the press. The press routinely prints anti-Apple pieces (for prejudice or money). People read them. People believe them. People get fooled.

 

[Popeye206]

"For Apple to win, Microsoft Google doesn't have to lose."

+1 Exactly! It goes without saying there will be more than one major OS in the smart phone market.

 

[aristotle]

Popular perception is formed by the press. The press routinely prints anti-Apple pieces (for prejudice or money). People read them. People believe them. People get fooled.

This is really no different than how you still see some people believe that MSFT still owns part of Apple stock when they sold their stock back in 2002.

 

[S.B.G]

That's pretty good considering that it's one OS on one piece of hardware (iPhone) compared to many flavors of Android and many different hardware devices.

I wonder how the numbers would look if there was only one flavor of Android and one hardware device like the iPhone.

 

[shartypants]

Personally I don't care much if Android takes over the iPhone, I love iOS and will stick with that (not sure how all those people use Android devices, yuck).

 

[yg17]

Windows who?

Windows Phone 7 has only been out for 2 months, and it looks quite promising. Don't write it off yet.

 

[OllyW]

It is funny how the popular perception for months has been that Android has already overtaken iOS in the US.

Perhaps they are confusing it with Android outselling the iPhone?

 

[imikem]

Popular perception is formed by the press. The press routinely prints anti-Apple pieces (for prejudice or money). People read them. People believe them. People get fooled.

I suggest that the press (quaint term that, nowadays) will latch onto ANY story involving Apple, and Android, good or bad, because people suck it up. Fanbois, trolls, basement geeks, even rather normal individuals. It's simply what's hot today.

 

[ten-oak-druid]

Android will gain on iOS until Apple iphones move to more carriers. Then I would expect iOS usage to jump quite a bit. Probably not quite a majority but a plurality of quite a margin. Probably 45%.

 

[BigJimmyC]

In what way is iOS continuing to hold off android? All this shows is that android hasn't yet surpassed iOS and that RIM is dropping the ball. What those graphs do show is that this will likely happen within the next few months. Headline should really read: iOS soon to be surpassed by android.

 

[Žalgiris]

Maybe because Android is basically non-existent on non-phone devices up to this point?

If you wanted to compare iOS to Android, that would make Apple look even more dominant when you consider that iOS is on iPod Touch, iPad, iPhones and now the new Apple TV.

Either it's OS vs OS or manufacturer vs manufacturer. Now it's apples and oranges.

 

[NebulaClash]

In what way is iOS continuing to hold off android? All this shows is that android hasn't yet surpassed iOS

Um, that's exactly what "hold off" means.

 

[Full of Win]

The trend is your friend, and those lines projected forward spell trouble for Apple.

 

[jmarques]

This is just in US, I think that in the entire world, iOS has far more than Android

 

[OllyW]

Either it's OS vs OS or manufacturer vs manufacturer. Now it's apples and oranges.

When talking about smartphones iOS and the iPhone is exactly the same thing.