Q1 2012: Android captures 56% of global market

[afv011]

In the smartphone OS market, Android accounted for more than half of all smartphone sales (56.1 percent) in the first quarter of 2012

Source

[RainingLemur]

The numbers for Microsoft look terrible. Are these numbers before or after they launched their new Windows Phone stuff?

[rdfry]

Originally Posted by RainingLemur

The numbers for Microsoft look terrible. Are these numbers before or after they launched their new Windows Phone stuff?

I believe after.

[afv011]

Originally Posted by RainingLemur

The numbers for Microsoft look terrible. Are these numbers before or after they launched their new Windows Phone stuff?

Yes, currently MSFT and RIM are on a downward spiral. MSFT may eventually overtake RIM, but it is still a 2 horse race for the time being.

[VaporPunk]

MS is shooting itself in the foot with its W8 licensing costs.I was really hoping that this would become a three horse race this fall, not so optimistic anymore.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by VaporPunk

MS is shooting itself in the foot with its W8 licensing costs.I was really hoping that this would become a three horse race this fall, not so optimistic anymore.

MS Windows 8 tablets will be a success in the business market alone. The challenge will be the consumer market. Have they indicated how much the licensing costs will be? I can't imagine it will be very much.

I would consider a Windows 8 tablet if it has fully functional Windows running on a very energy efficient Intel processor. I want to be able to run all Windows programs, an ARM processor would only make sense if everybody and his dog would recompile their programs for ARM --- and I don't see that happen. So a lot of the functionality will be left out.

But give me a fully functional computer with a finger friendly interface, 6 hours battery life running flash video (10+ hours for everything else), weighing in at 600 grams with a 10" screen, a micro SD slot and HDMI out ---- I would pay a lot more for that than for any Android or IOS tablet.

[VaporPunk]

I've been getting a bad vibe from the interwebs...

Here's a quick link : There's plenty more out there.

and that’s before the Windows licensing costs are added in; according to the report that’s sitting around $90-$100 per tablet. I’ve certainly seen suggestions that OEM Windows licensing costs can be substantially lower than that...

In a competitive market, even 1/3 to 1/2 of the above cost makes it tough to compete. Win 8 was always going to be more popular with businesses than with the general populace but this is not good news for Joe Six-pack. Enterprise will pay the premium, most consumers will not. I guess we'll see.

[ScotiaBurrell]

Originally Posted by afv011

Source

also say

Gartner analysts said the smartphone market has become highly commoditized and differentiation is becoming a challenge for manufacturers.

“At the high end, hardware features coupled with applications and services are helping differentiation, but this is restricted to major players with intellectual property assets. However, in the mid to low-end segment, price is increasingly becoming the sole differentiator. This will only worsen with the entry of new players and the dominance of Chinese manufacturers, leading to increased competition, low profitability and scattered market share.”

OS win for Google - hardware losses for all but a few.

[morantis]

I have noticed that the advertising for these systems is pretty spread out. Android and IOS seem to have about the same number of ads per given period, with Microsoft way in the back with very few ads.

[afv011]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

MS Windows 8 tablets will be a success in the business market alone.

That didn't save RIM, so I'm not certain that MSFT will fare any better. They're very late to the party.

[Dopedangel]

Originally Posted by morantis

I have noticed that the advertising for these systems is pretty spread out. Android and IOS seem to have about the same number of ads per given period, with Microsoft way in the back with very few ads.

iOS has a huge first mover advantage in because of its Ipod touch. So despite Android selling more devices for many quarters now it will take it at least till the end of 2012 to get ahead on the total number of devices and so the advertising numbers don't reflect that.
Microsoft is getting into the tablet and mobile OS a bit late and I dont see it really competing with others or taking any kind of real market share. Plus microsoft is supposedly going to release an Office suite for iOS and Android. That will remove one of the most compelling reason to buy a windows tablet in the first place. Microsoft by patent licencing etc is trying to make Android cost a lot more to OEM than it should so that it can compete with its own OS.

[ScotiaBurrell]

Originally Posted by Dopedangel

iOS has a huge first mover advantage in because of its Ipod touch.

iPhone released first. always.