Android is an effective operating system used in many popular mobile phones and tablets it runs in a similar way to the operating systems commonly found in laptop computers and PC’s. There has been considerable debate about the growth or decline of Android market share recently with some people saying that it still remains in top position worldwide whilst others argue that its market share is in decline.

Android Market Share

Samsung, HTC and LG are a few big name manufacturers who have adopted Android technology and manufactured Smartphones known Worldwide. As mobile phone providers and third party manufacturers are increasingly using Android technology in their devices, the Android market share continues to grow. However, are the devices still as popular as they once were and can it maintain a competitive edge over the ever popular iPhone developed by Apple? The general feeling is that Apple iPhones have dominated the market but research gathered in relation to mobile usage seems to offer contradictory results.

The data identifies that Google Android is indeed prevailing and possessing the majority of the market share, prevailing over its competitors and is well ahead of Apple’s iPhone on a worldwide scale. Google can further support this claim that they do indeed hold the market share having sold 60 million Android devices in just a two year period. Furthermore, research has also suggested that in the third quarter of 2011 Android Smartphone’s have significantly outsold and outperformed the iPhone in the current Smartphone market.

Third Party Android Devices

Google launched Android in September 2008 and unlike Apple’s IOS was designed to operate on an array of devices manufactured by third party companies. When Android was launched it faced competition from Symbian, Blackberry, Samsung’s Bada and Microsoft Windows but it appears to have leaped ahead of all of these operating systems and has significantly retained its position as market leader. Different people have their own reasons as to why the Android Market Share has been retained by Google; some suggest that it is because of the ability of the Android operating system to effectively operate on an array of third party manufactured devices, whilst other people have suggested that the business models of Microsoft and Symbian respectively were not particularly strong.

Whilst both of these factors have undoubtedly impacted upon the Android market share, they are by no means the only reasons why the phone is so popular. Other factors must have played an equally significant role in the success of the Android.

Android Apps & Features

The quality of the Android platform is outstanding and whilst it can be easily customised by third party phone manufacturers the platform at a very basic level offers an extremely user friendly experience as well as being sparing on hardware contained within the device. Moreover it also provides access to some excellent media lists including a full web experience, flash content, music MP3 files, video files and many other media types all of which are fully available on the Android Platform. In addition, Google’s vast store to download apps and its touch screen technology are key contributors to its success and has subsequently impacted on the Android market share. Research by Worldpanel and ComTech found that the Android held a strong 36.9% usage whilst the iPhone rated at 28.5%.

The popularity and the many key features prevalent within the Android operating system have meant that the competition has simply struggled to keep up. There is no single reason why the Android has retained its market share, it appears to be the result of many interwoven factors ranging from the strong operating platform and features to the availability to operate on many third party manufactured devices, but whatever the reasons for the success of the Android, it still holds a very strong market position and shows no sign of ceasing any time soon.


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