Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Development
    • Development
    • Mobile
    • PC Hardware
    • Servers

    Apple, Google Will Take 98 Percent of Mobile Market in 2012: Analyst

    Written by

    Todd R. Weiss
    Published September 13, 2012
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      Apple-fresh off of its launch of the iPhone 5-and Google continue to grow their dominance in the mobile marketplace, having positioned themselves to capture as much as 98 percent of mobile device sales by the end of 2012.

      That bold prediction comes from financial research firm Global Equities Research, just a day after Apple’s flashy Sept. 12 announcement of its refreshed, larger and more feature-filled iPhone 5.

      The 98 percent estimate comes from interviews with 15 iOS and Android developers at several mobile technology conferences, said Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry.

      “There will not be any third spot left,” he said. “Nokia, Microsoft and RIM [Research In Motion] will struggle in the remaining 2 percent of the market.”

      Interestingly, the latest mobile market share numbers from rival IT research firm IDC show Google and Apple having a combined 85 percent of the global market today, including Android’s 68.1 percent share and Apple’s 16.9 percent share, according to a Sept. 12 Associated Press story. RIM’s BlackBerry has a 4.8 percent share, down from 11.5 percent a year earlier, while Symbian (mostly used by Nokia) holds a 4.4 percent share, down from 16.9 percent a year earlier, according to the AP. Windows Phone holds a 3.5 percent share, up from 2.3 percent a year earlier.

      There would have to be a 13 percentage point swing gain for Android and iOS by the end of December for Chowdhry’s numbers to happen. His prediction is gutsy, to say the least, but he defends his estimates and his small 15-developer sampling.

      “It is not the quantity of people you talk to,” said Chowdhry. “In a random sampling of people, when three people in a row say the same thing, you know you have it right.” The developer interviews were conducted Sept. 12 at several conferences, including the Intel Developer Forum, where an Android session was being held. “You get the direction right” with only 15 replies, he said.

      The 98 percent market prediction was formulated after the developers shared their insights about how they view the marketplace, according to Chowdhry. “Developers will go to the platform where you have devices and you have monetization. If you look at Apple, they have 400 million devices in the market, with more than 400 million user credit card numbers in their system,” where developers can make potential sales of their apps.

      “What that means for a developer is that they have 400 million people waiting to buy,” he said. “That is a critical asset that Apple has. If you go to the Windows market, they don’t have 400 million devices or credit card numbers.”

      The same lucrative market realities exist for Android developers because of the immense popularity of that system, he said. Android is still growing, too, with about 1.2 million new device activations a day.

      About 90 percent of app developers today are building their apps for sale in both Android and Apple stores, said Chowdhry. “It says there is so much innovation going on with Apple and Google. These two will win gold and silver for sure and they will win by a huge margin. Microsoft, RIM and Nokia are not dead on arrival. They never departed.”

      At least one analyst, Dan Maycock of Slalom Consulting, thinks that predictions of Microsoft’s imminent death on the mobile market might be a bit hasty.

      “I think that the 98 percent prediction is pretty aggressive,” said Maycock. “Certainly, it’s going to come down to people and their loyalties.”

      Microsoft “makes money on every Android device that’s sold because Google gives them $5 for a Microsoft Exchange license for every device” to license Exchange for use with the platform, said Maycock.

      “There is more than 2 percent of the world population that doesn’t like Android or Apple,” said Maycock. “And Microsoft has too much money, too much entrenchment in the enterprise market and too much to lose to let [a possible 2 percent market share] happen to them. If they have to give away enough devices to get more than 2 percent of the market, they could do it.”

      Todd R. Weiss
      Todd R. Weiss
      Todd R. Weiss is a seasoned technology journalist with over 15 years of experience covering enterprise IT. Since 2014, he has been a senior writer at eWEEK.com, specializing in mobile technology, smartphones, tablets, laptops, cloud computing, and enterprise software. Previously, he was a staff writer for Computerworld.com from 2000 to 2008, reporting on a wide range of IT topics. Throughout his career, Weiss has written extensively about innovations in mobile tech, cloud platforms, security, and enterprise software, providing insightful analysis to help IT professionals and businesses navigate the evolving technology landscape. His work has appeared in numerous leading publications, offering expert commentary and in-depth analysis on emerging trends and best practices in IT.

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×