Android Market Share Hits 80 Percent, Windows Phone Gains Momentum: IDC

Google's Android platform was expected to be the top most used OS throughout the world. Now the survey report from IDC (International Data Corporation) said with 211.6 million smartphone units shipped during the third quarter of 2013, Android's market share rose to 81% winning over Apple's iOS. Android's share a year ago was at 74.9%.

If compared to other device running on different OS, Apple iPhone sales grew 25.6 % from a year earlier, the growth was slower than the overall market and Apple's share fell to 12.9 % from 14.4 % in the same period last year.

While, Windows Phone emerged as the number three smartphone platform with a market share of 3.6 %, up from two percent a year earlier. Windows Phone sales grew 156 %, with more than 90 % made by Nokia, the Finnish group whose handset division is set to be acquired by Microsoft. And BlackBerry fell to 1.7% from 4.1% a year ago.

The overall market for smartphones grew 39.9 % year-over-year in the quarter, to 261 million units.

IDC analyst Ramon Llamas, said, "Android and Windows Phone continued to make significant strides in the third quarter. Despite their differences in market share, they both have one important factor behind their success: price,"

The analyst further added, "Both platforms have a selection of devices available at prices low enough to be affordable to the mass market, and it is the mass market that is driving the entire market forward."

Stay tuned to GizBot for more updates.

Source