These data spell significant trouble for Microsoft in the smartphone market. Despite launching Windows Phone 7 (WP7) with great fanfare in November 2010, Microsoft's market share in smartphones has in fact declined 1.7% from October 2010 through January 2011.
They weren't many phones supporting WP7 until recently. I think you will see that number grow slowly. They're a bit late to the party. I think it's a better OS than Android in my view. That said, the only people I know with WP7 are .NET developers ;)
I'm guessing Apple is trying to grab hard onto the market segment that brings in the most profit, while Google is going for the commodity, high volume, low margin option.
The good news is that both models can coexist in the same market. After all, Nintendo's strategy is a bit like Google's, while Microsoft and Sony's are more like Google's. Nintendo has been quite profitable for a very long time even when they didn't own the entire market.
> Apple is trying to grab hard onto the market segment that brings in the most profit, while Google is going for the commodity, high volume, low margin option.
Interesting sidebar in the comscore report:
In the continuously contentious debate as to whether the future of mobile apps are downloaded or browser-based, we see a gain in both, but native apps seems to have had a marginal edge in gain.
Would be cool to see this data over a longer window.
Used browser; 36.2%; 37.0%; 0.8
Used downloaded apps; 33.7%; 35.3%; 1.6
I wonder how much of the gain in app usage can be attributed to the new version of the Android market, which I think shipped during this time period. We'd have to see app usage by platform stats for that though I guess.
I hope this serves as a wakeup call to Apple, that their position is not so unassailable that they can continue looking for new ways to drive away partners and developers without consequences.
It's because all Android has done is blurred the line between smart phone and feature phone. It's Android phones now that are the free and BOGO phones and that's exactly what Google wants--a base out there that they cannot be excluded from for their primary business, advertising.
That link basically says that Jan-Jun 2010 Apple sold just under 3% of all smart phones in the world, but they took in 39% of all profit made in that sector in the same time period. It's really astounding what they've been able to do this relatively established market in just 3 or 4 years. No wonder everyone else was so blindsided.
Apple isn't after market share or any metric in particular, they never have been. They're after making great products they want to use.
To create an android phone, means writing an OS, giving it away, and trying to get hardware developers, app developers, and advertisers on board. That is not going to be easy,
Microsoft might have a chance, if they started to give away their OS, but probably not.
Yes, but that does not invalidate the data presented here. It is worth comparing smartphones, to see how others are fairing in this market segment, and it is worth comparing entire OS marketshare, to see what everyone is using.
Apple is doing well, and Android is doing amazingly well.
We've seen this coming for quite some time. Both Google and Apple have very apparent opposing strategies in how they're going to attract customers to their respective platforms. It's almost like watching Mac vs Windows all over again. Apple is shooting for higher quality and high-end customers, while Google is aiming for a higher scale and much wider user base. In the end, both should co-exist and serve their niche just like Mac and Windows.
The first chart is all phones, not just smartphones and HTC only sell smartphones. You either have to sell lots of dumbphones too (like Samsung and LG) or sell a whole bunch of smartphones (RIM and Apple).
I'm not sure whether Motorola is there mostly on the strengths of smartphone sales alone or combined with dumbphones.
Somewhat off-topic: is there any reason not to get Virgin Mobile's $150 LG Optimus V for the purpose of exploring Android development? Aside from smaller memory and lower-res camera, it looks like I don't miss out on anything from top of the line models.
The only reasons not to get one are (1) Not-great hardware, if you love top-of-the-line stuff, it'll fall short, (2) Sprint's network is pretty sucky, and you can't roam onto Verizon like I believe you can with regular Sprint, (3) Virgin Mobile doesn't allow VM forwarding so you can't easily use Google Voice for Voicemail.
On the other hand, it's a nearly-pure Froyo experience, the battery life and performance is great, the plans are dead cheap, it has awesome hardware buttons not crappy haptic capacitive ones, a Market install of "Quick Settings" opens up the Wifi Hotspot feature. Seriously, $25/mo?!
Anyway, I bought one, and coming off an old iPhone (and AT&T), I think it's great so far. Might have to reevaluate after I spend some time out of the metro area and away from Interstates.
Thats exactly what I got it for and it turns out that its a good little phone. The resistive touch works more accurately for me than other phones of the same size and the battery lasts me 3 days most of the time.
The main problem, at least for me, is that it is on Sprint's CDMA network so it doesn't work if you travel out of the country. Another issue for some people is it doesn't have flash.
[+] [-] mjfern|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] keyle|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] alperakgun|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] RyanMcGreal|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bane|15 years ago|reply
I'm guessing Apple is trying to grab hard onto the market segment that brings in the most profit, while Google is going for the commodity, high volume, low margin option.
The good news is that both models can coexist in the same market. After all, Nintendo's strategy is a bit like Google's, while Microsoft and Sony's are more like Google's. Nintendo has been quite profitable for a very long time even when they didn't own the entire market.
[+] [-] rbanffy|15 years ago|reply
Hardly. Google doesn't make phones.
[+] [-] guelo|15 years ago|reply
Unless you're an Apple shareholder why does that matter? As a developer #1 in market share is a very significant milestone.
[+] [-] samirmm|15 years ago|reply
Would be cool to see this data over a longer window.
Used browser; 36.2%; 37.0%; 0.8 Used downloaded apps; 33.7%; 35.3%; 1.6
[+] [-] nl|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jimbokun|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] lispm|15 years ago|reply
Google does not even really sell a phone. Google sells you, the user.
[+] [-] flogic|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] kreek|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] whatever_dude|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] valjavec|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] YooLi|15 years ago|reply
ex.: http://macdailynews.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/110303_andro...
[+] [-] wmeredith|15 years ago|reply
That link basically says that Jan-Jun 2010 Apple sold just under 3% of all smart phones in the world, but they took in 39% of all profit made in that sector in the same time period. It's really astounding what they've been able to do this relatively established market in just 3 or 4 years. No wonder everyone else was so blindsided.
Apple isn't after market share or any metric in particular, they never have been. They're after making great products they want to use.
[+] [-] megablast|15 years ago|reply
Microsoft might have a chance, if they started to give away their OS, but probably not.
[+] [-] tesseract|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rufo|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] megablast|15 years ago|reply
Apple is doing well, and Android is doing amazingly well.
[+] [-] akamaka|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mcantelon|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ZeroGravitas|15 years ago|reply
http://www.idc.com/about/viewpressrelease.jsp?containerId=pr...
Android Explodes in Western Europe, Drives Market Growth and Becomes the Biggest Smartphone Operating System in 4Q10, says IDC
Android growth was 1,580% year-on-year vs. Apple's 66%
[+] [-] rbanffy|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dchest|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] noahlt|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bonch|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rooshdi|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] iworkforthem|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ZeroGravitas|15 years ago|reply
I'm not sure whether Motorola is there mostly on the strengths of smartphone sales alone or combined with dumbphones.
[+] [-] georgieporgie|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] j_b_f|15 years ago|reply
On the other hand, it's a nearly-pure Froyo experience, the battery life and performance is great, the plans are dead cheap, it has awesome hardware buttons not crappy haptic capacitive ones, a Market install of "Quick Settings" opens up the Wifi Hotspot feature. Seriously, $25/mo?!
Anyway, I bought one, and coming off an old iPhone (and AT&T), I think it's great so far. Might have to reevaluate after I spend some time out of the metro area and away from Interstates.
[+] [-] trotsky|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] discreteevent|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] athom|15 years ago|reply
[+] [-] guelo|15 years ago|reply