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Topic: BlackBerry

Latest smartphone market share numbers: Apple is flat, Google going strong

Summary: Mobile analytics firm comScore has released the latest quarterly numbers for smartphones, and there are some telling changes that reflect the mobile space. Android keeps growing while others remain flat.

James Kendrick

By for Mobile News |

Mobile analytics firm comScore released its latest quarterly numbers for smartphones, and there are some telling changes in the mobile space. Apple's iOS market share numbers have remained largely unchanged, with only 0.5 percent growth in the quarter ending March 2011.

Google's Android continues to grab market share with a 6 percent growth over the same period. Google's growth corresponds closely with the drop in share by RIM, a significant 4.5 percent. The big drop by RIM has Apple's iOS getting close to overtake the BlackBerry. Android keeps growing while other platforms are remaining relatively flat or declining in market share.

On the OEM front, the new statistics show the only handset maker in the top five to show growth in share is Apple, likely due to the release of the iPhone 4 with Verizon. Even with this significant event, Apple's market share grew only 1.1 percent. Apple was the leader in growth, however, with other firms remaining flat or showing slight declines. The top five OEMs in market share were Samsung, LG, Motorola, RIM and Apple. The top three are OEMs using Android, indicating it is still the platform garnering the most sales to consumers 13+ as surveyed.

Topics: BlackBerry, Apple, Google, Hardware, Mobility, Smartphones

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38 comments
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  • People are just waiting for iPhone 5

    which is only a short time away.
    Bill Pharaoh
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Latest smartphone market share numbers: Apple is flat, Google going strong

      @Bill Pharaoh <br><br>People are just waiting for iPhone 5 on version.<br><br>I think we heard that before.<br><br>Is your name people?
      Did you talk/ask "people", if that's not your name?
      Return_of_the_jedi
      Reply Vote

      • He jokes; but the statistics is slightly different depending on the company

        @Return_of_the_jedi: ... which collects data. NPD showed different results last week.
        DDERSSS
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Latest smartphone market share numbers: Apple is flat, Google going strong

        @Denisrs I told you last week those numbers were bad because they cut out corporate and everyone under the age of 18!

        International numbers showed Apple Grew but at 5% world wide they're a niche platform at best and Android was much stronger the world over.
        slickjim
        Reply Vote

    • Rubbish...

      @Bill Pharaoh Rubbish! It was always predicted that this would happen. Most people don't necessarily want an iPhone. Anybody who has any technical knowledge for starters would choose Android & if they'd bought an iPhone by mistake earlier they'll be moving soon. iPhone's are for the technical equivalent of a old-time Windows user, now with phone, one interface & only Apple's way of doing things. Doesn't this sound like Windows?

      With Android there are a multitude of ways to interface so choose the one you want or get an iPhone...
      alfielee@...
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Latest smartphone market share numbers: Apple is flat, Google going strong

    Another survey which doesn't say much, unless comScore is withholding information.
    One chart talks about handset makers which includes figures for smartphones, feature phones, dumb phones etc. and the other talks about smartphone OSes.
    MG537-23482538203179240121698430309828
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Latest smartphone market share numbers: Apple is flat, Google going strong

    The key phrase is:

    <em>On the OEM front, the new statistics show the only handset maker in the top five to show growth in share is Apple, likely due to the release of the iPhone 4 with Verizon.</em>

    So basically, Android is growing because the market is flooded with phones running the OS. Everything from feature phones to full smartphones. But when you look at the individual handset makers, Apple is the only one of them showing growth.

    Nice click-bait title by the way... Apple obviously isn't flat, and how is Google's phone (Nexus S) doing against the iPhone?
    tk_77
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Latest smartphone market share numbers: Apple is flat, Google going strong

      @tk_77 <br>It is well known that two individuals can look data in vastly different manners, coming to different conclusions.
      THis is why things like phone activations are more important that guessing which phone OEM has sent more to the retailers.
      Rick_K
      Reply Vote

      • Activations and RETURN RATE

        @Rick_K Activations by themselves don't tell the entire story. Without the return rate of a particular product, the activations would be completely pointless.

        One example, the reported 20+% return rate on many Samsung Android phones .... and probably many WP7 phones too.
        wackoae
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Latest smartphone market share numbers: Apple is flat, Google going strong

        @Wackoae I would ask you to support your claims with solid evidence but we both know that you would fail to provide any.
        slickjim
        Reply Vote

      • Activations and RETURN RATE

        @wackoae don't forget to put Apple in there as well. They just don't allow the numbers to be released. The users sign a statement which includes a shut-up statement...
        alfielee@...
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Latest smartphone market share numbers: Apple is flat, Google going strong

      @tk_77 That isn't accurate, just last month HTC was touted for its growth as it took over the top spot for handsets.
      slickjim
      Reply Vote

    • Advertising through Android...

      @tk_77 Google's own phone was probably a disaster waiting to happen, a really dumb idea but just the same from a marketing, advertising front, everything Android equals everything Google, so their advertising share would be exploding. Sucks being Microsoft right now, just sucks. Apple, who?
      alfielee@...
      Reply Vote

  • 25% on 2 basic models... Sounds darned impressive.

    Based on this, iOS has a very strong future with the iPod Touch and iPad and iPhone.
    Bruizer
    Reply Vote

    • I agree. If Apple releases some more form factors like the rumored iPhone

      mini, they could gain more share. Amazing what they have done.
      DonnieBoy
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Latest smartphone market share numbers: Apple is flat, Google going strong

      @Bruizer iOS Market share remained largely unchanged, Android grew by 6% and you draw the conclusion that iOS has a bright future?
      slickjim
      Reply Vote

  • This kind of comparison doesn't mean much.

    I am not among those that feel that Google is a phone maker as the article title would suggest. The Android platform (as I believe the blogger should be saying for the sake of clarity) had better have good numbers as it represents a large number smartphone makers. By the way Toyota has a larger market share than Civic.
    CowLauncher
    Reply Vote

    • Android is Google...

      @CowLauncher while their payments back for building Android is zip, Google is an advertising company first & foremost & while Android is utilising GMail, Maps, Reader, not to mention all the apps on Market, their advertising revenue is running through the roof. What do they care about their investment into Android when it's a drop in the bucket comparatively...
      alfielee@...
      Reply Vote

  • That monkey is pining for the fjords

    There is Cosmic Justice in the way Google makes it difficult for a certain software company to make any headway in the mobile phone market by giving Android away. I believe the precise term from Netscape days is "cutting off the Oxygen." I wasn't sure I would live to see the Universe's revenge for what Microsoft did there, but I'm pleased to see that the revenge is indeed served cold.
    Robert Hahn
    Reply Vote

    • It's still early in the game, and Nokia is on the way

      and in the smartphone market, there is no such thing as lock-in. Things can change overnight, and when the market matures and the dust has settled, probably in a year or two, that's when we'll know who the real winners are.
      adornoe
      Reply Vote
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