The smartphone market has been privy to some interesting changes throughout 2011, including Android’s climb to the top of the market share data with its growth rate showing no immediate signs of slowing down as we head into the forthcoming year. Apple continues to enjoy success following the launch of the iPhone 4S, as well as being involved in some bitter patent battles with rival manufacturers, while Microsoft and RIM failed to impress markets both in the UK and the US.
In the last year within the US, Apple and Google held 3/4 of the market, having achieved a combined market share of 75.6% between August 2010 and November 2011.
Less successful contenders include Microsoft, who saw their share plummet from 10.8% to 5.7%. RIM also dropped its share from 37.6% to 19.7% in spite of its past prevalence as the single largest smartphone platform in the US, just one year ago.
Mobile web browsing statistics for the US have seen the iPhone and iPad account for iOS’s 52% market share of mobile web browsing in the closing month of 2011. Over half of mobile web users in December were browsing using an iOS device; a successful outcome for Apple, with the iPad contributing greatly to this overall figure.
Meanwhile statistics within the UK appear to largely shadow the US, with key contenders Google and Apple residing at the top following figures released at the end of October 2011. The data shows that Android’s OS is responsible for powering just under half of all smartphones sold within the UK, as the graph below indicates.
The most popular smartphone maker to emerge within the UK in 2011 however, was Samsung, which saw its smartphones account for 1/3 of all smartphone devices sold in the UK. Taiwanese manufacturer HTC followed with a 32% share, while iPhone, due to its modest range of devices in comparison with the two leaders found itself with a 9% share of the UK handset market.
2012 is shaping up to host some important battles within the smartphone market both here and in the US. It may well see growth patterns of the key players leveling out to help create a more stable picture of the market as a whole. What is certainly clear from the rapidly changing positions of the key contenders throughout 2011 is that a mobile strategy should take into consideration a variety of platforms to ensure maximum user exposure.
Whether we shall see a stand-out winner in the smartphone race is yet to be decided, however the battles to come will prove interesting in the coming year, so stay in touch for all of the latest smartphone data.
Posted on January 5, 2012 by topbananas
0