Apple Inc. (AAPL) iOS Shrinking Measurably in Several Major Smartphone Markets WorldWide !

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Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) looks all set to stun the world again when it unveils the iPhone 6 on September 9. The Cupertino-based giant has not released any major product in almost a year and the results are now clearly visible as the market share of Apple iOS is shrinking in the face of an overwhelming assault from both Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Android OS and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows Phone OS. According to data from the Kantar World Panel Report for the three months ending July 2014, the smartphone market share of Apple iOS declined across almost all  major smartphone markets worldwide. When compared with the three months ending July 2013, only three countries had a slight gain in iOS market share, at just 0.4%.

The next few months will be crucial for all three smartphone ecosystems since the fourth and last quarter of 2014 is the period during which smartphone sales are usually the highest; thanks to holiday seasons across the globe. A host of new products will be unveiled in the coming months from all major smartphone OEM’s.

Android Takes A Huge Chunk Out Of  iOS in The U.S

Android’s market share in the US grew by an astonishing 11.4% compared to last year to reach 62.9%, for the three months ending July period. Android’s success has largely been attributed to the rapid rise of low-cost Android models such as the Moto G. Globally as well, Android has gained steady momentum in almost all major smartphone markets. In China, the rise of smartphone vendor Xiaomi, Huawei Technology Co Ltd. (SHE:002502) and Coolpad Group Ltd. (HKG:2369) has allowed Android to increase market share by 8.4% over the past year. Xiaomi, which uses a forked version of Android named MIUI  has a market share  of 31.6% in China, and is the largest OEM followed by Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. (KRX:005935) and Huawei.

Smartphone OS market share in US

Mexico saw the largest gain in Android Market share, surging by 17.6% to reach 80.6%. In Europe, with the exception of Spain, the market share of Android grew in the top five European countries which are Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. Brands such As French-based Wiko Mobile have allowed Android’s market share to surge to 75.1%. The rapid increase of low and medium priced Android models from local smartphone vendors will continue to attract a majority of the consumers in all countries worldwide.

Apple iOS Market Share Shrinks In Almost All Major Markets

The US, which is Apple’s largest market by far, saw its share shrink by 11.8% to 30.9%. This situation is similar in almost all major markets. China, which was among Apple’s key focus points at the start of 2014, is now facing slow and steady decline. The market share of iOS dropped by 5.6% over the past one year to reach 13.2% and Apple is also not in the list of top five vendors in China. Another surprising decline was from Japan, long thought to be an Apple stronghold. Here, the market share fell from 49.1% in July 2013 to 28.8% in July 2014. In the European market as well, iOS declined by 1.6% to 14.5%.

Smartphone OS market share China

The data clearly indicate that the market share of iOS typically tends to spike upwards during the release of the iPhone models. Although the iPhone 5S is the best-selling smartphone in the world for a record eight months since its release, it still does not compensate for the iPhone’s falling market share. Meanwhile, Apple’s rival Samsung has performed well in the U.K market, largely due to the Galaxy S5. Samsung’s share of the market in GB now stands at 36% and during the July period, the S5 model was the best-selling model in the U.K with 11.5% of sales. Dominic Sunnebo explained how Samsung was adopting Apple’s strategy:

It’s becoming increasingly clear just how important Samsung’s existing customers are to driving new sales. Some 52% of customers who bought a Samsung Galaxy S5 in Great Britain had previously owned a Samsung model, while 20% were earlier Apple owners, and 18% moved from HTC. Apple is very good at giving existing customers a reason to stay loyal to the brand and to upgrade to new models when released. Samsung is becoming increasingly adept at employing the same tactic.

Mixed Bag Results For Windows Phone

The market share of Windows Phone increased significantly in some countries such as Italy, Spain and GB but declined in France and Germany. The worst results came from world’s largest smartphone market China, where the market share fell measurably from 2.3% in July 2013 to 0.8% in July 2014. There were some positive results as well with the top five European markets going up for Windows Phone from 7.65% to 8.5%. In three countries name Italy, Argentina and Mexico, the market share of Windows Phone is greater than that of Apple iOS.

Smartphone OS market share in Great Britain

Microsoft and several other OEM’s have already launched several new products such as the HTC One M8 for Windows Phone, and the Lumia 630 and Lumia 530 models.  It will be interesting to see if the market share of Windows phone increases over the next few months.

The iPhone 6 Could Alter The Market Forever

The most eagerly awaited launch of 2014 is that of the iPhone 6. Several rumours are suggesting a large screen device available in two sizes, and this device could upset several markets worldwide. With the phablet market set to grow enormously, the device if power packed with new features, could instantly attract customers worldwide and become a major bestseller. This will in turn trigger an upgrade cycle, and ensure that Apple continues to make inroads in several emerging markets in the years to come.   Kantar

23 COMMENTS

  1. ReggieMiddleton It peaked with Jobs. It troughed without Jobs. It peaked with him again. Now, sadly, it’s all downhill from here

  2. NasenticHD BrutalxBarbie_ OpTic_NaDeSHoT Did you scroll down at all? That was only the U.S. Look at the domination.

  3. @jeffandersontv jason77leach NoletJoshua yah right, so you actually are happy to be slave to iFruity and cough up ALL your money for their product, even though their bill of material for their product (thus the quality of the hardware) are consistently lower than the competitor by around 25%?
    And you buy a phone for resale value? It is just lucky that they capture a core group of die hard fan who will pay such ridiculous price for a second hand phone, which makes no sense at all since it spoils as easily as other handsets. But if you are in for that, good for you. For the rest of us, we enjoy the flexibility and customisation AND functionality that other phones (whether windows or android) offers.
    As for customer satisfaction, you are misled there. There other company are just as high.
    http://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthof/2013/07/31/samsung-smartphones-edge-apples-iphones-in-customer-satisfaction-survey/ 
    And this is an international study, not like the skewed and localised USA studies.

  4. gwbms jeffandersontv AKTsek NoletJoshua true. Current comp and phone are first lemons in 15yrs. Expecting good things from next ones.

  5. jason77leach jeffandersontv AKTsek NoletJoshua It is, as always, how dissatisfied u can get before u force yourself to make a change.

  6. gwbms jeffandersontv AKTsek NoletJoshua I worry that day is coming sooner like every prior tech firm due to bland recent prod updates.

  7. gwbms jeffandersontv AKTsek NoletJoshua other devices. I’ll be around long after they don’t deliver since changing will be brutal. 2….

  8. gwbms jeffandersontv AKTsek NoletJoshua little dif for me in this case. Been with Apple for 15 yrs. Don’t even know how to use…1

  9. jason77leach jeffandersontv AKTsek NoletJoshua Thought it was about functionality. Once the brand I’m loyal to can’t deliver, I switch.

  10. jeffandersontv AKTsek NoletJoshua each has their hook. Blackbry is security. Apple, functionality. I can’t even use non-apple devices Lol

  11. AKTsek jeffandersontv NoletJoshua like every prior tech firm, once innovation slows, watch out. Comp is laughing at iPhone6 launch

  12. AKTsek jason77leach NoletJoshua I disagree. I think ppl’s selfishness>loyalty so when a product doesn’t meet my needs loyalty decreases

  13. jeffandersontv jason77leach NoletJoshua Apple very successfully tapped into Man’s innate desire to worship, so CSR’s hardly compelling.

  14. jason77leach NoletJoshua no smart phone has better customer satisfaction rating. No smartphone is as profitable.

  15. jason77leach NoletJoshua not by that measure. That’s a not entirely accurate comparison of mobile platforms. No smartphone outsells iphone

  16. jollijacktar Nokia 620,Lenovo c440 touch, AsusT100 Windows lets in the light. Wife into Xperia Z phone and tablet “I like the colour”

  17. OtusCoxn – so..you don’t rate Apple – that’s fine. Assume your home is devoid of Apple products. I can’t move without tripping over them

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