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Android and iOS U.S. market share continues to grow at BlackBerry’s expense

Updated Dec 19th, 2018 7:40PM EST
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Google’s Android platform and Apple’s iOS each grew more popular in the United States last month as Research In Motion’s BlackBerry devices and Microsoft’s Windows Phones again lost ground. Market research firm comScore released its market share data for the three-month period from September through November 2011, and the company found that Google’s share of the U.S. smartphone market grew to 46.9%, up 3.1 points from 43.8% in the prior three-month period. Apple’s iOS platform gained just over a point over the same period to reach 28.7% and BlackBerry shed more than 3 points to sink to a 16.6% share. Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform shed half a point to drop to 5.2% in the three-month period ended November 2011. Samsung remained the top cell phone vendor overall with a 25.6% share and Apple showed the most growth, gaining 1.4 points for an 11.2% share but remaining in the No.4 spot. ComScore’s full press release follows below.

comScore Reports November 2011 U.S. Mobile Subscriber Market Share

One-third of Mobile Subscribers Access Social Networking on Mobile Device

RESTON, VA, December 29, 2011 – comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today released data from the comScore MobiLens service, reporting key trends in the U.S. mobile phone industry during the three month average period ending November 2011. The study surveyed more than 30,000 U.S. mobile subscribers and found Samsung to be the top handset manufacturer overall with 25.6 percent market share. Google Android continued to capture share in the smartphone market to reach 46.9 percent market share.

OEM Market Share

For the three-month average period ending in November, 234 million Americans age 13 and older used mobile devices. Device manufacturer Samsung ranked as the top OEM with 25.6 percent of U.S. mobile subscribers (up 0.3 percentage points), followed by LG with 20.5 percent share and Motorola with 13.7 percent share. Apple strengthened its position at #4 with 11.2 percent share of total mobile subscribers (up 1.4 percentage points), while RIM rounded out the top five with 6.5 percent share.

Top Mobile OEMs
3 Month Avg. Ending Nov. 2011 vs. 3 Month Avg. Ending Aug. 2011
Total U.S. Mobile Subscribers (Smartphone & Non-Smartphone) Ages 13+
Source: comScore MobiLens
Share (%) of Mobile Subscribers
Aug-11 Nov-11 Point Change
Total Mobile Subscribers 100.0% 100.0% N/A
Samsung 25.3% 25.6% 0.3
LG 21.0% 20.5% -0.5
Motorola 14.0% 13.7% -0.3
Apple 9.8% 11.2% 1.4
RIM 7.1% 6.5% -0.6

Smartphone Platform Market Share

91.4 million people in the U.S. owned smartphones during the three months ending in November, up 8 percent from the preceding three month period. Google Android ranked as the top smartphone platform with 46.9 percent market share, up 3.1 percentage points from the prior three-month period. Apple maintained its #2 position, growing 1.4 percentage point to 28.7 percent of the smartphone market. RIM ranked third with 16.6 percent share, followed by Microsoft (5.2 percent) and Symbian (1.5 percent).

Top Smartphone Platforms
3 Month Avg. Ending Nov. 2011 vs. 3 Month Avg. Ending Aug. 2011
Total U.S. Smartphone Subscribers Ages 13+
Source: comScore MobiLens
Share (%) of Smartphone Subscribers
Aug-11 Nov-11 Point Change
Total Smartphone Subscribers 100.0% 100.0% N/A
Google 43.8% 46.9% 3.1
Apple 27.3% 28.7% 1.4
RIM 19.7% 16.6% -3.1
Microsoft 5.7% 5.2% -0.5
Symbian 1.8% 1.5% -0.3

Mobile Content Usage

In November, 72.6 percent of U.S. mobile subscribers used text messaging on their mobile device, up 2.1 percentage points. Downloaded applications were used by 44.9 percent of subscribers (up 3.3 percentage points), while browsers were used by 44.4 percent (up 2.3 percentage points). Accessing of social networking sites or blogs increased 2.1 percentage points to 33.0 percent of mobile subscribers. Game-playing was done by 29.7 percent of the mobile audience (up 1.2 percentage points), while 21.7 percent listened to music on their phones (up 1.0 percentage points).

Mobile Content Usage
3 Month Avg. Ending Nov. 2011 vs. 3 Month Avg. Ending Aug. 2011
Total U.S. Mobile Subscribers (Smartphone & Non-Smartphone) Ages 13+
Source: comScore MobiLens
Share (%) of Mobile Subscribers
Aug-11 Nov-11 Point Change
Total Mobile Subscribers 100.0% 100.0% N/A
Sent text message to another phone 70.5% 72.6% 2.1
Used downloaded apps 41.6% 44.9% 3.3
Used browser 42.1% 44.4% 2.3
Accessed social networking site or blog 30.9% 33.0% 2.1
Played Games 28.5% 29.7% 1.2
Listened to music on mobile phone 20.7% 21.7% 1.0
Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.