Figures-fest
Shipments of Android-based phones have increased by over 850 percent as the growth of Google's operating system outpaces market leader Nokia's Symbian.
Android shipments have grown by 886 percent year-on-year from Q2 2009, with Apple notching up the second most impressive growth in the smartphone sector, rising 61 percent in the same timeframe despite ‘antennagate', according to figures from research company Canalys.
However, Nokia has held onto its market dominance with a 38 percent market share, shipping a record 23.8m smartphones in Q2. This equated to 42 percent growth since Q2 2009, predominantly down to its affordable smartphone offerings based on the Symbian operating system. Overall, the smartphone sector soared by 64 percent from Q2 2009 to Q2 2010.
|
Worldwide smartphone market |
|||||
|
OS |
Q2 2010 shipments |
% share |
Q2 2009 shipments |
% share |
Growth |
|
Symbian |
27,129,340 |
43.5 |
19,178,910 |
50.3 |
41.5 |
|
RIM |
11,248,830 |
18.0 |
7,975,950 |
20.9 |
41 |
|
Android |
10,689,290 |
17.1 |
1,084,240 |
2.8 |
885.9 |
|
Apple |
8,411,910 |
13.5 |
5,211,560 |
13.7 |
61.4 |
|
Microsoft |
3,083,060 |
4.9 |
3,431,380 |
9.0 |
-10.2 |
|
Others |
1,851,830 |
3.0 |
1,244,620 |
3.3 |
48.8 |
|
Total |
62,414,260 |
100 |
38,126,660 |
100 |
63.3 |
The data "reveals the impressive momentum Android is gaining in markets around the world," said Canalys' principal analyst, Chris Jones. He attributes part of its success in the US to heavy promotion of devices such as HTC's Desire and Motorola's Droid.
"These products have been well received by the market, with consumers eager to download and engage with mobile applications and services, such as Internet browsing, social networking, games and navigation," he said.
The Asia Pacific region is also tipped to embrace Android phones. TY Lau, senior analyst at Canalys added: "Android devices are gaining good traction in markets such as mainland China and South Korea, with growing numbers of consumers wanting more sophisticated smart phones."
The survey found Android devices now account for just over a third the US's 14.7m smartphones. However, globally RIM's Blackberry's still dominate the second largest share of the smartphone market, with the company seeking to consolidate its position with the imminent launch of its BlackBerry 6 operating system.
Canalys' data showed shipments of BlackBerrys grew by 41 percent, helping it retain its place as the second most popular vendor worldwide and favourite vendor in North and Latin America.
However, the Symbian platform, often found on Nokia and Sony Ericsson phones remains the world's favourite and is particularly popular in Asia. The Symbian operating system was recently made open source but is still often considered to be upstaged by Apple's iOS 4 and Google's Android.
