A latest research from Wireless Smartphone Strategies (WSS) service has found that Android continues to dominate the smartphone market share with four out of five smartphones running Google's OS. Apple lost 2 percent share while Windows Phone is the fastest-growing smartphone platform.
Android is the most popular mobile platform among various smartphone makers. World leading companies like Samsung, Sony, HTC, LG, Motorola and others have adopted the platform for entry-level, mid-range and high-end smartphones. This has led the Google-owned OS to dominate the smartphone market.
Other mobile platforms from renowned companies like Apple, Microsoft and BlackBerry, which have exclusive operating systems for their respective platforms account for a lesser market share.
According to the latest analysis from Wireless Smartphone Strategies (WSS) service, global shipments of smartphones has reached 251 million in the third quarter this year, up from 172.8 million units last year. Major contributors for the increase in total smartphone shipments this year is the high demand for Android and Microsoft's fastest-growing network of Lumia devices.
"Android's domination of global smartphone shipments reached a new peak in Q3 2013, with four out of every five smartphones now running Google's OS. Android's gain came mainly at the expense of BlackBerry, which saw its global smartphone share dip from 4 percent to 1 percent in the past year due to a weak line-up of BB10 devices," the WSS report states.
While BlackBerry had a rough year with only 1 percent market share, Windows Phone grew significantly. Its market share doubled since the previous year, which makes it the world's fastest-growing smartphone platform. BlackBerry lost 3.3 percent share since 2012.
Apple surprisingly did not do well either, but the results were not inclusive of iPhone 5S and 5C shipments. Apple had a grand opening of its two flagship smartphones with a new record setting 9-million units sale during the launch weekend. These numbers will be included in the next report which is more likely to help Apple occupy a better share in the market. But with Android powered devices like Nexus 5 for just $349 off-contract, it would be a great challenge for the Cuppertino based tech giant to snap a bigger share.
