Android may now be largest smartphone platform in US - Electronista
Android has overtaken BlackBerry and iPhone sales to hold the largest share of the smartphone market in the US, Canalys argued today. Collectively, the sales from HTC, Motorola and smaller Android producers amounted to 34 percent of American smartphones in the spring, or just enough to edge out RIM's 32.1 percent and Apple's 21.7 percent. HTC's Droid Incredible, Evo 4G and other devices accounted for the largest slice at 14.4 percent, with Motorola, LG and others taking smaller pieces.
Android as a whole grew almost nine times larger compared to its still fledgling position a year ago; shipments expanded 886 percent worldwide and 851 percent in the US. Until this summer, Samsung and Sony Ericsson were significant factors in Android sales, but only outside of the US. In China, Android still has a much tougher road ahead as Nokia dominates the market at 76.9 percent where Motorola has just 4.7 percent, but China Mobile's decision to back Android through its custom Open Mobile System variant gives it an effectively government-backed assist.
Motorola is due to get a significant uptick in US market share this summer as the Droid X and Droid 2 will be Verizon's headlining models.
Apple's growth is still significant, but many now believe the company's exclusivity deal with AT&T has become a liability in the US. With the safety of knowing the iPhone wouldn't be available on other major networks, Google has made Android the premier smartphone platform at Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile, in many cases pushing the BlackBerry aside. The situation may change within the next half year as rumors of Verizon iPhones by next year and T-Mobile this fall could undermine Android, whether through carrier-loyal customers who would now have an iPhone option or customers who want an iPhone but are determined to avoid AT&T at all costs.
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