Nielsen: Apple maintains U.S. market share lead in November; Android closing in fast

By on Jan 3, 2011 at 12:46 PM
mobile January 3, 2011

Nielsen released its November 2010 smartphone market share data for the U.S. on Monday, and highlighted two main observations along with its report. First, Apple’s iOS platform held on to the lead it won in October, when it passed RIM to become the most popular OS in the United States with 27.9% of the market. RIM’s BlackBerry OS fell to the No. 2 spot at that time with 27.4% and Android closed in on both platforms with 22.7%. Nielsen’s new November data shows Apple climbing slightly to 28.6% while BlackBerry OS just barely holds its position above Android, falling to 26.1% compared to Android’s 25.8%. Nielsen’s other observation emphasizes Android’s huge popularity over the past six months. Among those who made smartphone purchases in the last six months in the U.S., 40.8% bought Android devices, 26.9% bought iPhones and only 19.2% purchased BlackBerrys.

Read

Tags:
, , , , , , , , , , ,
58 Comments

Related Articles

  • http://mindmirror007.blogspot.com Sathya

    I see this trend only getting better with the release of Honeycomb ….

    • John Peters

      Funny that BGR failed to indicate that if you look at the margin of error for this report, then Apple and BlackBerry are tied.

  • http://twitter.com/ChazClout ChazClout

    When will we see windows phone 7 on the radar?

    • http://twitter.com/the_om3ga_man Omega Man

      Should be this year. But with it only releasing on one or two U.S. carriers, thus far, it’s market share can’t be to significant yet. Note: there still is 19.5% unaccounted for in this chart.

  • http://twitter.com/mfg68 Matt Galo

    This is going to be a huge week for Android.

    • Donny

      Its gonna be a bigger week for Verizon the following week when the iphone is announced for Verizon and Sprint.

      • Med234

        I doubt it, most of the Android devices being announced at CES, will likely be years ahead in tech than the iPhone 4.

      • Anonymous

        BFD. Regular consumers [not tech nerds] could care less about specs. Go to any carrier’s store; Verizon, AT&T, et-al. 95% of the people in there are asking the same things “Can I use Twitter/FB/Texting on it?, and if so, how much is it per month?”

        I’ve yet to hear anyone go to the salesperson, and say “Hey, is this running the latest Snapdragon processor?” or “When will you guys be offering Froyo or Gingerbread?”

        Smartphone Nerds and Geeks are the minority. Don’t believe it? Go to the mall, or out and about in a crowd sometime…take a look at their phones…and what they’re doing with them…

      • http://twitter.com/the_om3ga_man Omega Man

        Features, capability, support, user experience and cool/functional/reliable apps, are what I think most folks will be looking for in 2011, from their shiny new smartphones. The back end data integration and services will just be icing on the proverbial cake. IMHO.

      • http://twitter.com/the_om3ga_man Omega Man

        apple fans should hope that Android has a great year in 2011. That will push Apple into a true competitive state, and some truly innovative things should come out of cupertino as a result. And possibly at less expensive levels as well. I see this as a win-win for the consumer.

    • http://twitter.com/the_om3ga_man Omega Man

      I’d say a huge year in general, as long a Google, the phone makers and/or the carriers don’t screw things up.

  • Anonymous

    Very confused here. Doesn’t Android have like 100 devices shipping? RIM is beating Android still? How is Google and the OHA screwing this up so bad?

    I want answers damn it!!!

    • Monique

      Again, name the 100 Android smartphones available in the US. I want an answer too damn it!

    • Anonymous

      Wait… they closed a 12 point gap in share in 6 months, and they are screwing it up??? lol ok

    • FrankP

      I also want answers! How long has Apple and RIM been at this game vs Android?

    • http://twitter.com/the_om3ga_man Omega Man

      Corporate Businesses are a HUGE user of Blackberry products within the U.S. Android? Not so much….Yet! ;-)

      The kids, out there, are just now beginning to trade in the BB for the myriad of Android products due to the Cool Factor, Android customization capabilities, and plenty of free apps. Just look at the trend of the graph and not the market share numbers which are only a static point in time. This shows a steep up-trend for Andorid os based systems from October to November. And a steady decline for RIM in that same period. Decembers trend is not shown.

      • Michael Scrip

        I know half a dozen people who got Android phones this time around…. instead of another Blackberry. These are regular consumers.. not corporate customers.

        You gotta remember… 24 months ago… Blackberries were great for texting, a little Facebook, etc. Oh and Blackberry Messenger.

        But that isn’t enough to hold people’s attention anymore. Blackberries are no fun.

        I hear that teens still love Blackberries for BBM with their friends, though… but RIM seems to be on a downward spiral for everyone except corporate BES customers.

    • bobomb

      Because Android started at zero percent marketshare just over 2 years ago?

  • Anonymous

    The distinction there is that all of the iPhones were sold, while half the Android devices were given away in BOGO offers, which is why Apple made $4 billion profit last quarter, and Android OEMs collectively made literally a quarter of that.

    • Anonymous

      Apple still makes a ton of money even though they have only 10% of the PC market…
      I guess thats good if you a stockholder…
      But this report is not about profits is it?

      • Michael Scrip

        That’s true.

        But I think the point is that Apple is not going out of business anytime soon because Android is selling more.

        Right now… Android devices are selling 300,000 a day to Apple’s 150,000 a day. And soon there will be more Android phones in people’s hands than iPhones.

        But Apple is not gonna board up the windows at the Cupertino headquarters anytime soon.

        Apple is one company selling 3 phones at the moment.

        “Android” represents an OS from Google, and dozens of phones from many different manufacturers.

        So yeah… the chart shows that “Android” is gaining on Apple… and that’s great for Google and their advertising business.

        But, the phone manufacturers keep pumping out so many models every few months… each one diluting the others.

      • Anonymous

        There are already more Android PHONES in hands than iphones. These numbers include all of ios, which is a lot of ipods and ipads.

    • Monique

      So, you know how many people did the BOGO deal? Do you think just because BOGO is available, whic is mainly just on VZW, that people will go out and buy Android devices? For instance, the Palm Pre Plus and the Pixi Plus were both available as BOGO but didn’t come close to the sells figures of Android, Apple, RIM, and Windows despite Palm having a pretty slick os. Also, just because it’s a BOGO on a phone, the data prices remain the same. And for a lot of people, data prices are too expensive even if they could get a free phone.

    • Drew

      Sorry, but the consumer STILL paid for said “free” device in requiring to have a data plan for 2yrs (24mos x $24.99 or thereabout). “Free” just means you didn’t pay for it up front. And the distortion field continues…. Your figures and logic are flawed as you fail to realize the $4 Billion includes iPad, iPod, Mac..etc. Let’s not mix apples and oranges… No pun intended.

  • Scott

    Bring on CES this year! I’ll be making the switch from iPhone to Android. And I’m sure I won’t be the only AT&T customer doing so when the Olympus hits.

    • VirginMerry

      Trading in your Mercedes for a Chevy……why?

      • Supercop

        Mercedes with the fattest bezel?

      • http://www.facebook.com/peterf Peter Fares

        Other way around.

  • Donny

    And when the no.1 US carrier (Verizon) gets the iphone expect android to drop. Expect it to drop even further when Sprint gets it and even when the no.5 carrier Tmobile gets it.

    But android will catch up and beat apple in overall market share sooner or later. I’m sure of that. It will be the standard on prepaid phones and the crappiest 1 cent buy one get 30 free for your low life friends that hang out on your front stoop.

    • http://twitter.com/corys00 Steve Cory

      I guarantee if AT&T could do BOGO on the iPhone, they would’ve started doing that quite a while back. The single biggest factor in phone purchasing, especially families, is cost of start up and subsequent upgrades and if the manufacturer wants to offer BOGO to the consumer (and the carrier spiffed for the lost sales revenue), then I welcome that.

      • VirginMerry

        The iPhone IS a BOGO. WHen my contract is up, I simply log onto eBay and sell my outdated phone for more than the new one costs.

        The iPhone is wonderful at exceeding it’s value on resale. There is no such thing as an unsold iPhone on eBay.

    • Anonymous

      T-Mo #5 carrier, classic.

    • Monique

      yeah, because I see a lot of people with cheap Android phones, NOT…most people I see are rocking high end Droids, MyTouch 4G, Nexus S, etc….

    • Anonymous

      Shut the fuck up Donny!

    • Droid Dude

      You are clueless.

  • teclilla1

    The Minute iPhone hits Verizon android will slow a bit then the next thing that feel bring it to a complete hold will be Windows phone 7. You might laugh but Microsoft is attracting a lot of good developer for Windows phone 7. Windows phone 7 will be on the same devices as Android but with better apps and less crap. Everyone likes a open platform but when you get a bunch of morons submitting apps and pretending they’re developers it becomes a problem.

    • http://twitter.com/khaminsenz Feed Back

      Expectations and forecasts aside, let’s continue this discussion when IP7 has some legitimate sales figures to report. And i mean SALES figures, not giveaways, corporate gratis, or deeply cut promotions.

      Let’s ignore the fact they’re releasing their first capable phone OS 5+ years after Apple and 1+ years after Android. Let’s also ignore the fact that they’ve yet to put forth one successful strategy or product in the mobile space. Where are the truly significant Windows tablets? Where are the Windows phones holding real market share?

      And finally, there are tons of great developers with backgrounds in Java writing some very good applications for Android. Microsoft is NOT the only game in town when it comes to mobile development. And frankly when it comes to “mobile Town” they haven’t even opened up shop yet.

      • keymaker

        Trust me developers will focus on WP7 and iOS. Android is a mess to develop and google can’t do nothing to fix it cause it’s not google’s fault, is OEMs stripping original codes to implement crap and by Original code i don’t mean themes or skims, i mean real code that are in place so things work right.

  • guest

    but this data wont stop from fandroids or apple hipsters trolling each other.

    • Monique

      yeah, it’s a never ending cycle. I just don’t get it. I guess they think they will get paid for advertising their favorite OS. Why can’t there be room for 4-5 smartphone OS’s? Not everyone wants an iPhone or an Android based phone. Choice is good for the consumer.

      • Anonymous

        No, choice is evil, you must choose the same device as me or you’re retarded.

        /sarcasm

  • Seankir79

    Do the apple numbers include ipods? That is the only possible way they could be in first. I see way more blackberry and android phones

    • keymaker

      It all depends where you live son. In some places AT&T is so terrible that people can’t buy iPhones even if they wanted to, but then in other places it’s a different story.

    • Goofan (aka Apple Hater)

      I don’t see ANY Apple products at all! I don’t see any iMacs, Macbooks (any flavor), iPads, iPhones, iPods, battery chargers, xServers, Macpros, displays, adapters, etc etc. So I hear what you are saying.

      • Anonymous

        You must live under a rock, or in the deep south…How’s Uncle/Daddy doing these days?

        Stop F’ing your sister!!!!

      • Goofan (aka Apple Hater)

        Actually, I have properties in Manhattan, Downtown San Francisco, Chicago (by Wrigley) and I live a week in each location. And, as I said, I don’t see any iMacs, Macbooks (any flavor), iPads, iPhones, iPods, battery chargers, xServers, Macpros, displays, adapters, etc etc where I live.

        And sorry nefan65, your sister and wife should have told you, but I am doing them both… Sorry mate, I couldn’t resist.

      • Anonymous

        LMAO @ Goofan…right…hold onto that dream…Somehow I doubt anyone with $$$, owning multiple properties would be spending their time on boards like this…but whatever floats ur boat dip wad….

      • Anonymous

        You are such a douche. I hope being a total ass on the net is therapeutic for you. It’s obvious you wouldn’t have the balls to do it in person. Get a life, and stop taking this shit so seriously. It’s not good for the heart.

  • Anonymous

    Blackberry is not a smartphone. It’s a brick with email.

  • Steel

    That flat line shows how Apple has maximized its market due to restricting itself to one carrier. You’d normally argue that this line will take off again w/ an iPhone on Verizon, but they’ve stupidly allowed that void to be filled by Android.

    Welcome to 1984 again, Jobs. Your continual preference for control keeps you small.

  • Dim_poet

    Funny, when I hear people brag about how much profit apple has made since the birth of the iphone yet knowledge of apple profit means nothing to average user or
    Techie. Please ppl find something else to sensationalize. Meanwhile leave the profit talk to the forbes blog.

  • Tech_User

    i thought android had passed iOS in usage? i knew that data was a lie

    • Anonymous

      No, you just can’t comprehend what you read. This is marketshare. What you saw before was sales…big difference. Apple is copying Android, and still can’t keep up with it. The only things Apple had before Android was pinch to zoom, and an app store. Everything else, Android did first. Now, Android has tons more features. What a phone can do matters to people these days. That, with choices provided is is why Android is kicking ass. The lack of iphone on 3 of the 4 carriers has given people the reason to consider Android. Now, people know Android surpasses iphone in features and has plenty of apps (over 200,000 now) so, they no longer need the iphone. Will Verizon sell some iphones? Of course! But, it won’t be in the ballpark of Droids…especially with 4G phones coming. Att is selling Android phones, even though they have the jesus phone. So, that should tell you something. There are more people screaming for more Android choices at att, than iphone on verizon. I think for the most part, most people that want the iphone, already have one. There will just be a shift. A lot will drop their iphone on att, and get one on verizon. Apple won’t see much, if any marketshare increase from a verizon iphone. Mark my words.

      • Michael Scrip

        – “Apple won’t see much, if any marketshare increase from a verizon iphone. Mark my words.”

        You’re crazy! jk

        But you do have a point… anyone who wanted an iPhone already has one… maybe.

        Quite a few people did switch to AT&T for the iPhone. But not everyone wants to switch to another carrier for a phone… because of family plans, etc. The fact that people would switch carriers for a phone really say something about that phone.

        So, if the iPhone is now put in front of 93 million Verizon customers… I bet quite a few will bite. Millions, actually.

        Do you really think Apple will only sell Verizon iPhones to existing AT&T customers who switch? That’s the only way Apple won’t have any increased marketshare, as you put it. But the truth is… there will be millions of existing Verizon customers who buy an iPhone… and each one of those will be a new iPhone customer.

        There are 125,000 people every day on Verizon who are eligible to get a new phone. I’m pretty sure if an iPhone is on display at a Verizon store… a ton of iPhones will walk out of the store.

        You know how people are in line to get the new iPhone every summer when it’s released on AT&T? Why wouldn’t it be the same at Verizon?

        I’ve never known any phone to go from one carrier to two… and they don’t sell any more…

        Hell… the iPhone is on 5 carriers in other countries… why is going to 2 carriers in Apple’s home country such a shocker?

  • Max

    RIM(job) losing marketshare. Surprise surprise.

  • Duh

    this is dumb considering how many different phone makers use Android and how Google just gives the OS away to anyone.

    It’s different for RIM and Apple who manufacture their own phones and their own OS. If Apple gave iOS out to any manufacturer who wanted to use it, I doubt the numbers would be anywhere near as close (just an example).

    • Anonymous

      If if if. None of what you suggested will ever happen. Steve’s ego is too big. But, choice is what prevails.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Johan-Ekblom/100000533781474 Johan Ekblom

    I have heard that WP7 sells so horribly bad??? Could it be the same situation as with KIN they have to close down the project??? Microsoft to show us the real figures so I do not believe in rumors???

blog comments powered by Disqus