The Android Stat That Shocked the Smartphone World
We all know that Android has been on a rampant growth spurt across the global smartphone landscape recently. But the latest numbers from IDC are jolting even the most bullish Android-watchers.
Despite besting Wall Street expectations in terms of iPhone shipment volumes in Q2 of 2013, IDC announced Wednesday that Apple’s share in the worldwide smartphone operating system market posted a year-over-year decline during the second quarter of 2013.
All told, iOS represented just 13% of smartphone shipments in the three month period ending in June.
It was a different story altogether for Android, which powered 80% of smartphones shipped globally in Q2.
While the decline for iOS at Android’s gain is dramatic, it’s not necessarily unexpected that Apple’s share is on the downswing for the time being.
“The iOS decline in the second quarter aligns with the cyclicality of iPhone,” explains Ramon Llamas, Research Manager with IDC’s Mobile Phone team. “Without a new product launch since the debut of the iPhone 5 nearly a year ago, Apple’s market share was vulnerable to product launches from the competition. But with a new iPhone and revamped iOS coming out later this year, Apple is well-positioned to re-capture market share.”
