Google-powered Android phones and iPhones are both gobbling up market share. The combined worldwide market share of both operating systems reached 25 percent in the first quarter, up from 12 percent the year before, according to Gartner. The iPhone still has a bigger share, at 15.4 percent (up 5 points), but Android is catching up fast with 9.6 percent (up 8 points). All other smartphones lost relative share during the quarter, even RIM Blackberries, although they still grew in absolute numbers (see table below)
Android is now the fourth largest smartphone operating system, displacing Windows Mobile, which is now No. 5. The iPhone OS is No. 3, RIM is No. 2, and Symbian is still No. 1 on a worldwide basis. If you look at all mobile phone sales, RIM is No. 4 with 3.4 percent share, and the iPhone is No. 7 with 2.7 percent share.
While Android is rising faster than the iPhone in relative share, it is still trailing in absolute numbers. Gartner estimates consumers bought about 8.4 million iPhones in the first quarter, compared to 5.2 million Android phones. Apple sold 4.9 million more iPhones in the first quarter than the year before, while Android sales were up by 4.6 million units.
Can Android sales catch up to the iPhone?
Table 2
Worldwide Smartphone Sales to End Users by Operating System in 1Q10 (Thousands of Units)
| Company | 1Q10
Units |
1Q10 Market Share (%) | 1Q09
Units |
1Q09 Market Share (%) |
| Symbian | 24,069.8 | 44.3 | 17,825.3 | 48.8 |
| Research In Motion | 10,552.6 | 19.4 | 7,533.6 | 20.6 |
| iPhone OS | 8,359.7 | 15.4 | 3,848.1 | 10.5 |
| Android | 5,214.7 | 9.6 | 575.3 | 1.6 |
| Microsoft Windows Mobile | 3,706.0 | 6.8 | 3,738.7 | 10.2 |
| Linux | 1,993.9 | 3.7 | 2,540.5 | 7.0 |
| Other OSs | 404.8 | 0.7 | 445.9 | 1.2 |
| Total | 54,301.4 | 100.0 | 36,507.4 | 100.0 |
Source: Gartner (May 2010)
Android is a software platform for mobile devices based on the Linux operating system and developed by Google and the Open Handset Alliance. It allows developers to write managed code in Java that utilizes Google-developed software libraries, but does not support programs developed in native code. The unveiling of the Android platform on 5 November 2007 was announced with the founding of the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium of 34 hardware, software and telecom companies devoted to advancing open standards...
The iPhone 3GS, announced at WWDC on June 8, 2009, is a faster iPhone featuring a 3.0 megapixel camera with autofocus, video recording capabilities with editing, and increased (3X) processing speed. The 3GS is available in 16GB and 32GB, for $199 and $299, respectively. Other new features include: Digital Compass Cut, Copy, and Paste MMS (release delayed in the US) WiFi tethering (release delayed in the US) Voice Control Landscape Keyboard Spotlight Search Voice Memos
Austin, TX
Seattle, WA
San Diego, CA
Menlo Park, CA
San Francisco, CA
Berlin, Germany
