Android powered 75% of Smartphones shipped in Q3 2012

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IDC: Android on 75% of smartphones in third quarter

10:04PM EDT November 2. 2012 - NEW YORK (AP) — Google's Android software for mobile devices was running on 75 percent of smartphones shipped in the third quarter, as the search company extended its lead over Apple, according to research firm IDC.

Apple's iOS system, used in iPhones, was second with a market share of 15 percent. Apple's new iPhone didn't come out until late in the quarter, while Samsung Electronics and other Android makers had major releases earlier.

A year ago, Android had just 58 percent to the iPhone's 14 percent. Gains came largely at the expense of BlackBerry and Symbian phones, according to Thursday's report from IDC.

"Android has been one of the primary growth engines of the smartphone market since it was launched in 2008," said Ramon Llamas, a research manager for mobile phones at IDC. "In every year since then, Android has effectively outpaced the market and taken market share from the competition."

Google makes its operating system software available to phone makers to use in their devices for free. In doing so, Google wins prime placement for its online services, including search and maps. Apple does not license its iOS system to others.

All other mobile operating systems were in the single digits: BlackBerry at 4.3 percent, Symbian at 2.3 percent and Windows at 2 percent. Research In Motion Ltd. plans to start selling devices running a new version of BlackBerry early next year, while Microsoft launched a new version of its Windows phone software this week. Symbian is mostly used by Nokia Corp., which is now focusing on Windows phones.

Companies making Android devices include Samsung, HTC Corp. and Motorola Mobility, which Google now owns.

Here are IDC's top operating systems based on worldwide smartphone unit sales and market share in the third quarter of 2012.

— Android (Google) — 136 million units, 75 percent share (57.5 percent a year earlier)

— iOS (Apple's iPhone) — 26.9 million units, 14.9 percent share (13.8 percent a year earlier)

— BlackBerry (Research in Motion) — 7.7 million units, 4.3 percent share (9.5 percent a year earlier)

— Symbian (mostly used by Nokia) — 4.1 million units, 2.3 percent share (14.6 percent a year earlier)

— Windows (Microsoft) — 3.6 million units, 2 percent share (1.2 percent a year earlier)

— Linux — 2.8 million units, 1.5 percent share (3.3 percent a year earlier)

Source: IDC.

BB, Symbian got completely slaughtered. I am not sure which period he means by Q3, but probably its the data before iPhone 5 came in. Even with iPhone 5, its probably in US & UK, Android has some competition in form of iOS, everywhere else its probably Android dominating. Apple actually sold 50% more iPhones, still overall numbers were overshadowed by Android.

for me, there is definite feeling here that Android is the OS for masses and iPhone/iOS is meant for elite people in western countries. Google gives out almost everything for free, be it Android or services, allow anyone to use/customize/ meddle with Android, any company can use it, any individual can develop a Custom ROM, be it Micromax A60 or Galaxy Note 2, they have same OS. While iPhone/iOS always has been exclusive, different from others, smooth, sophisticated, refined, polished, premium, classy, apple brand, ecosystem, it stood for innovation, smartphone revolution, creating a new era, restrictive, protective about its image, products (all those patents about rectangular rounded corners).

Android FTW!

But seriously, still some catchup to do to reach iPhone levels of ease of use... Every one of my relatives who has an Android device complaints of lag and crashes. (most of them have Galaxy S2, one has a Razr, another has a Galaxy S variant, one LG Optimus Black, 2 Notes).

The hardware is more than decent, but software implementation is crap... This is very sad... Android should be better.

Today, my Dad was having problems figuring out how to bookmark locations in Google Maps on his S3... He comes from iPhone, which was so much more easier to use...

Android has to improve faster. Still have to catchup to iOS in terms of polish and ease of use... But hardware-wise, Android users get more bang for the buck...

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Because of many different Companies, versions, Models, Skins, Launchers, ROM developments, Android may never be as straight forward and easy to use. ofcourse once we checked out all the options available, it will provide best functionality of all.

ajaymailed said:
for me, there is definite feeling here that Android is the OS for masses and iPhone/iOS is meant for elite people in western countries.

nonsense, iOS is big in Asia, people here sell kidneys to get ipads, (jk this is horrible, pls not to try) we might as well be it's biggest paying base
hmm... developers lurve iOS, because people buy apps, think few others are paying developers as much as apple right now, if you want a steady stream of quality content that you are willing to pay for (nothing wrong in this, do you use your ration card, or just go out and buy your groceries?) then iOS is the only thing, it's cheaper than vegetables, you will never see "all app prices double", but "all vegetable prices double" is seasonal. Point is it's cheap, not elite or that brand stuff or anything. if at all it is about branding, then it's the developers who have found this platform to be viable, not any efforts by apple. it is trumping ds, vita and wii u, even with their marginal market penetration, these are the serious competition, not droids

hey guys >> Five Reasons Why Google Android versus Apple iOS Market Share Numbers Don't Matter. - Forbes

you cannot remove unwanted programs without harming the warranty or rooting the phone

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Anorion said:
hey guys >> Five Reasons Why Google Android versus Apple iOS Market Share Numbers Don't Matter. - Forbes

It definitely doesn't matter to an Investor, forget about investor, google itself isnt making anything on Android, money will always be not good from an open source like Android but for an end user it just means much more competition between android players, better prices, so many more choices at a large price range, development/Custom ROMs etc. This very forum is the evidence for that, with so many ppl asking help to choose a phone from large number of choices at different prices, models etc.