Google Android is the Leading Smart-Phone Platform in the World
According to the latest quarterly numbers published by Canalys, a technology market data, analysis and advice company, Google’s Android smart-phone OS became the world’s leading smart-phone platform in the fourth quarter of 2010, capping a year of huge growth.
Worldwide shipments of Android-based smart phones reached 33.3 million in the fourth quarter, according to Canalys, making it the top smart-phone platform and giving it 32.9 percent of the market. This reflected 615.1 percent growth from the fourth quarter of 2009, when Android claimed just 8.7 percent of the market and 4.7 million shipments.
LG, Samsung, Acer and HTC experienced remarkable year-over-year growth in the fourth quarter, with growth of 4,127 percent, 1,474 percent, 709 percent and 371 percent, respectively. “HTC and Samsung together accounted for nearly 45% of Google OS-based handset shipments,” according to Canalys’ report.
Nokia followed with 31.0 million shipments in the fourth quarter of 2010, giving it 30.6 percent of the market. Back in the fourth quarter of 2009, Nokia boasted 44.4 percent of the market and 23.9 million shipments. While it still experienced 30 percent year-over-year growth, it was clearly outpaced by Android’s surging growth.
Apple was third with 16.2 million shipments and 16.0 percent of the worldwide market. It experienced 85.9 percent year-over-year growth from the fourth quarter of 2009, when the platform had 8.7 million shipments and 16.3 percent of the market.
RIM was fourth with 14.6 million shipments and 14.4 percent of the market in the fourth quarter of 2010. The BlackBerry maker displayed 36.0 percent year-over-year growth from the fourth quarter of 2009, when it had 10.7 million shipments and 20.0 percent of the market.
Microsoft had 3.1 million shipments in the fourth quarter of 2010, giving it 3.1 percent of the worldwide market. This marked shrinkage of 20.3 percent from the fourth quarter of 2009, when the platform had 3.9 million shipments and 7.2 percent of the global market. Windows Mobile 7 is expected to give the company a nice boost in 2011.
“After a difficult 2009, the speed with which the market has recovered has required real commitment and innovation from vendors and they have risen to the challenge,” said Chris Jones, Canalys vice president and principal analyst. “But vendors cannot afford to be complacent. 2011 is set to be a highly competitive year with vendors looking to use new technology, such as dual-core processors, NFC and 3D displays, to differentiate their products and maintain value.”
Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) remained the largest market with 38.8 million shipments in the region, reflecting year-over-year growth of 90 percent. Nokia held it lead in that market and Asia Pacific, though it conceded its crown to RIM in Latin America.
The U.S. market is expected to see some shifts thanks to the Verizon iPhone.
“Verizon will move its focus away from the Droid range, but the overall market impact will mean less carrier-exclusive deals, while increasing the AT&T opportunity for Android vendors, such as HTC, Motorola and Samsung,” said Tim Shepherd, an analyst at Canalys.
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