Google's Android mobile OS is
gaining considerable ground on Apple's iOS, according to a
recent report from Quantcast. While the iPhone remains the dominant platform in the mobile web market, they're dipping while Android-based phones are seeing considerable growth. According to the report, Android-based mobile web use has increased from under 10% to 25% of the overall market, while iOS-based web use dipped from just under 70% to 56% of the market.
Here's some context for these numbers, and our thoughts on why this is happening.
In the past year, Android saw 18.6% growth while iOS saw a decline of 11.4%. Last quarter, Android grew 5.5% while iOS dipped 3.3%. In just the last month, Android grew 2% while iOS shrank 0.3%. Apple is still the biggest name in smart phones, but Android is catching up. Google's platform has overtaken the Blackberry-powering RIM OS in just a year, and currently holds a greater market share than RIM OS and all other non-Android, non-iOS mobile browsing systems combined.
The specific reasons for Android's growth and iOS's shrinkage in the last year are uncertain, but there are a few plausible explanations. Google is much more open with Android, letting different companies like HTC, Motorola, and Samsung make different models with the operating system. The company has also eschewed any sort of carrier exclusivity, so Android phones are available through Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile. Meanwhile, the only iOS devices are made by Apple, and AT&T holds the exclusive rights to sell the iPhone and iPad with a wireless plan. Combined with complaints about AT&T's service with the iPhone in some regions, it's easy to see why users have been switching from the iPhone to an Android phone.
Images via Quantcast, Flickr user Johanl
