http://goo.gl/eFFu Google's Android platform is on its way to become one of the leading smartphone operating systems in the U.S., a potential threat to Apple's iOS, BlackBerry OS and Nokia's Symbian.
The key factor that differentiates Android from other operating systems is that Android is used in different devices, whereas iOS or BlackBerry OS or Symbian are used only on iPhones, BlackBerrys and Nokias. The Android operating system has been steadily increasing in popularity as more leading smartphone makers such as Samsung, Motorola, LG and Sony Ericsson are backing it. The ongoing popularity of Android should help the platform become the top OS in North America by the end of 2010 and also the rave reviews for Android 2.2 (Froyo) and the forthcoming Android 3.0 (Gingerbread) could also bode well for the operating system . Earlier this year, Google claimed that about 200,000 Android-based smartphones are being sold every day. Surveys by several research firms showed that Android is gaining momentum against operating systems from rivals such as Apple and BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. A recent survey by comScore also noted that Android boosted its market share in the smartphone platform for the rolling three-month period ended in July to 17 percent, a 5 percentage points increase from April 2010. On the other hand, RIM and Apple despite holding the top two positions lost their market share by 1.8 and 1.3 percentage points, respectively. RIM held 39.3 percent, while Apple holds 23.8 percent of the smartphone platform market. Android platform also surpassed Microsoft's, which fell to 11.8 percent from 14 percent. Shipments of smartphones running on the Google-backed Android operating system grew at an incredible rate of 886 percent in the second quarter, according to research firm Canalys. According to a data from iSuppli, Android will be used in 75 million smartphones by 2012, up from 5 million in 2009. Meanwhile, iOS usage will amount to 62 million in 2012, up from 25 million in 2009. By 2012, the global market share of Android will soar from 2.7 percent in 2009 to 19.4 percent, while Apple's iOS for the iPhone will see its share rise to 15.9 percent in 2012, up from 13.8 percent in 2009, iSuppli said. Research firm Gartner also agrees with Android's soaring popularity and Android will become No.2 mobile OS by the end of this year, controlling 17.7 percent of the market. In comparison, RIM's BlackBerry OS, Apple's iOS and Microsoft's Windows Phone will control 17.5 percent, 15.4 percent and 4.7 percent respectively. The only mobile OS to beat Android this year will be Nokia's Symbian OS, which will control 40.1 percent. Gartner also predicts that by 2014, open-source platforms will continue to dominate more than 60 percent of the smartphone market. Though proprietary platforms such as iOS and RIM's OS will increase in unit terms, their "growth rate will be below market average and not enough to sustain share increase," Gartner said. -- Salam, Agus Hamonangan http://groups.google.com/group/id-android http://groups.google.com/group/id-gtug Gtalk : id.android Follow : @agushamonangan E-mail : [email protected] -- "Indonesian Android Community [id-android]" Join: http://groups.google.com/group/id-android/subscribe?hl=en-GB Moderator: [email protected] Peraturan Jual dan Kloteran ID-Android http://goo.gl/azW7 ID Android Developer: http://groups.google.com/group/id-android-dev ID Android Surabaya: http://groups.google.com/group/id-android-sby ID Android on FB: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=112207700729
