In Q2 2011, the market shares of Android and iOS were 44% and 31%, respectively. Recent quarterly shipment growth figures explain Android’s lead. iPhone shipment growth in Q2 2011 slowed to 9% from 15% a quarter earlier. In contrast, Android smartphone shipments increased 36% in Q2 2011, compared to 20% in Q1. Android’s install base now exceeds iOS by a factor of 2.4-to-1 worldwide; by 2016 this factor will grow to 3-to-1.
“Despite leading in total mobile application downloads, Android’s app downloads per user still lag behind Apple’s by 2-to-1,” adds Dan Shey, practice director, mobile services, in a statement. “Apple’s superior monetization policies attracted good developers within its ranks, thus creating a better catalog of apps and customer experience.”
Global app downloads for year-end 2011 are expected to balloon to 29 billion, compared to only nine billion in 2010. Such stellar increases are largely due to the proliferation of smartphones around the world. The total smartphone install base is expected to grow 46% in 2011.
ABI Research’s “Mobile Applications Market Data“” tracks mobile application downloads and revenues segmented by mobile operating system platform. The database includes historical data and forecasts for application downloads for all major mobile OSs. It also provides mobile application revenue forecasts and an overview of the major mobile application storefronts. This study is a part of the firm’s Mobile Applications Research Service.
Source: ABI Research
Chloe Albanesius reports for PC Magazine reports on “an influx of malware” targeting Android settlers. An August report from Lookout Security found that app- and Web-based threats are increasing in prevalence and sophistication, with Android users 2.5 times more likely to encounter malware than they were six months ago.
“Unlike Apple, Google does not monitor its apps once they are in the Android Market, responding only to complaints,” Albanesius reports.
Read more in the full article here.
Related articles:
Why Google’s Android is doomed – September 23, 2011
Android apps much less profitable than iPhone apps – September 9, 2011
Why iOS development is winning – August 5, 2011
Verizon iPhone and iPad 2 cause Google’s Android to lose developer support to Apple’s iOS – July 14, 2011
The gap is shortening! Soon it will be flipped especially after samsungs new nexus and ice cream sandwich comes out.
Man, how’s that 3.5″ holding up? I’ve got a couple of old pants I’d like to sell you. The seams are new but they look like last year’s design. They cost $299 with a contract and $599 without.
I must have missed the memo where it says Android sales are accelerating while iPhone sales are stagnating or going backwards. Oh so what now? Going backwards is actually advancing forwards in Apple-speak now?
Install base: android over iOS 2.4 to 1.
Likelihood of malware encounter: android over itself 6 months ago 2.5X. iOS (walled garden style) … Is it 0% chance?
I can’t wait to see the numbers at the end of this quarter!! And I’m tired of the 3.5″ screen complaint. Holding the iPhone comfortably in one hand, you can easily reach any spot on the screen with your thumb. Even just putting it in the Otterbox case that I use, it’s still ok, but any larger and it is not as easily used. They may make a larger screen at some point, but some of the newer phones out there that use size as their iPhone killing feature are just ridiculous! 4.3-4.5″?!? It’s like holding a Sony Walkman CD player to your ear!
Yes, Android leads in market share.
While trailing in app downloads per person, paid downloads, and internet usage.
What that tells you, in case it’s not obvious, is that Android’s market share is inflated by a large percentage of users that got a phone for cheap or free, and aren’t really using it.
To put it even more simply: people who really want a smartphone get an iPhone.
——RM
Funny, I read the same story on another site, but the spin was about the fact that TOTAL Android app downloads outpaced total iOS app downloads, but iOS beats Android in the “app-per-user” category.