Android dominates iPhone in Europe
Google mobile operating system (OS) Android has continued to steal share from Apple and Nokia’s platforms to bolster its position as the leading smartphone OS in the UK.
Android accounted for 38% of all smartphone OS sales in the UK in March, up 29.4% on the previous year, according to data from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.
Blackberry’s RIM was the only other OS in the UK to gain share in March, up 7.5% on the previous year to 24.5%. It is now the second most popular smartphone platform in the country.
Apple’s iOS plummeted 16.5% and now accounts for less than a quarter of all sales.
Nokia’s Symbian suffered a share drop last month and is down 14.7% on the previous year. Nokia announced plans to partner with Microsoft under a new structure to take on Google and Apple in February.
Consumer global insight director at Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, Dominic Sunnebo, says the key to Nokia’s success will be the speed at which at can develop a strong Windows-based smartphone.
He adds: “As Nokia’s core customer base does not comprise early adopters, a compelling range of Windows handsets brought out in the next 12-18 months would mean a large, untapped market of consumers could be tempted to move into the smartphone market – this is where Nokia could begin to fight back.”
Despite losing share in the UK, Apple fought back in the US with a 6.1% share increase in March thanks to the first full month of the iPhone being available on Verizon, as previously it was sold under an exclusive deal with AT&T.
Android had 35.9% market share in France and 35.5% in Germany in the period, the first month Android was simultaneously the most popular smartphone platform across the two territories and the UK.
For the full data see “related files” below
