While Apple’s iPhone is continuing to dominate the smartphone sector, and has successfully taken away market share from rival Nokia, the Google Android OS is on the way up.
New global sales figures from Gartner indicate that by 2012, the Android, Symbian and Research In Motion devices will control the smartphone OS market with Apple’s iPhone software coming in fourth with just a 13.6% share.
“The iPhone is all about user experience but Apple can only produce a small number of handsets and not everyone wants an iPhone handset. They will remain strong but they won’t take over world,” researcher Robin Simpson told The Age.
Android is set to see its market increase from the current level of 5.1% to 18%, ahead of RIM which will have 13.9%.
“We’re excited to see just how far the platform has come in one year… Android is now on over 10 devices in 26 countries with 32 carriers, in 19 different languages. As more carriers and handset manufacturers turn to open platforms, we anticipate this growth will only continue,” a Google spokesperson said.
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
