“Today we released the Mobile Metrics report with August data,” Mike Fyall writes for AdMob. “For those new to the report, the AdMob Mobile Metrics report is a reflection of the data flowing through our network each month. The statistics do not represent handset sales or unique devices in the market, rather they represent the relative mobile usage we see from the sites and apps in our network. This means that devices with heavy mobile usage (like the iPhone) have higher share than other devices.”
Fyall reports, “For this month’s feature, we’ve published the top devices and smartphones for each region as well as share of usage. Below is a chart showing how the share of operating systems has changed in the last six months.”
• Worldwide iPhone OS marketshare has increased from 33 to 40 percent in the last 6 months, with substantial share in all regions except for Asia and Africa. Please see our June report for more information on the geographic distribution of our iPhone users.
• As we have noted in previous reports, iPhone and Android continue to gain share at the expense of the legacy platforms like Symbian and Windows Mobile.
• Although its share of usage has been declining, Nokia handsets still dominate the top smartphones lists in all regions outside North America. Nokia’s new touchscreen devices – the N97 and XpressMusic – are both gaining traction and were the number 4 and 5 smartphones in Western Europe.
• Android continues its strong growth in both North America and Europe. Ad requests from Android devices grew 17% month over month in August, following a 50% increase in July. Given the new devices launching in Q4, it could be a huge holiday season for the Android platform.
• Phone represented 50 percent of US smartphone usage in AdMob’s network in August 2009, followed by RIM and Android devices at 14 and 13 percent, respectively.
Fyall reports, “Our worldwide and regional statistics are influenced by the location of the traffic in our network, so keep that in mind as you interpret the data. Our top 10 countries by traffic are listed in page 12 of the report, along with traffic breakdown by region, to help inform your analysis.”
Full report (.pdf) here.
MacDailyNews Take: Don’t worry, Microsoft, it’s all just a “rounding error.” 
Direct link via YouTube here.
Zap!
Hey Fester – how’s them numbers?
zOOnPhone on deck!
Another ’rounding’ error monkey boy?
Google android with HTC is the second best phone next to iPhone.
The headline is actually misleading, IMHO. The real takeaway here (take note industry analysts!) is that iPhone/iPod touch users actually USE their devices… a lot.
Oops, I meant to say almost misleading.
‘PC guys are not going to just figure this out. They’re not going to just walk in.'”
Yea..right Apple are not just PC guys…
@ecrabb… I couldn’t agree with you more. Not sure who at MDN is in charge of writing these headlines, but geesh, get a clue. Macrumors.com actually has a headline that appropriately describes what’s contained in the report.
Yeah, I think that that last pie graph of OS marketshare pretty well represents the quality of the OS in my opinion
The “real takeaway” is that the Admob data is naturally skewed in favor of iPhones (many of the ads the serve go to iPhone only mobile phone apps.) Its kind of like using Mac Daily News web statistics to form conclusions about world internet use.
iPhones are a big deal, but as a measuring tool Admob data is a poor tool.
is it me or has ballmer become increasingly more labile since the iphone came out?
@DESuseriGn
Got any backup data on that assertion?
Look at the trends, WinMo down to 4%
Rim down to 8%
Not good trends for them.
It’s a bit ironic to see the “Nortel” name just behind Ballmer’s head – another big-time player that refused to acknowledge their business reality and has since paid the ultimate price.
Nothing to see here, just a rounding error, move along now, all is well.
I think the real news here is Palm. I know MDN likes to dog on them but gaining 4% in just one month for their Web OS is pretty good, IMHO.
“Ad requests from Android devices grew 17% month over month in August…”
!!! Who are these people who buy a handheld electronic device so that they can receive 17% more advertising everywhere they go? Fools.
“This means that devices with heavy mobile usage (like the iPhone) have higher share than other devices”
iPhone uses 10 times more data than any other smartphone.
Wow. That graph really shows the big heap o’ trouble RIM is going to be in, considering they have been around for ten years and Apple is the new kid on the block. MS has the $$ to hang around no matter what happens but RIM doesn’t. Better hang onto those Blackberries, they’ll be museum curios in a couple years.
Hey Monkey boy, I’ve got your rounding error right here.
Honestly, I had to stop the video. I just can’t stand to watch that mucking foron.
In the video, he talks about unique innovations in the MP3 market. So, discontinuing everything but the new Zoon HD which is really similar to some other product is “innovation”?
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First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, finally they lose
While I believe that iPhone may have accounted for 40% of the Internet access from smartphones (usage), I doubt that Apple has 40% (or even 20%) of the smartphone market. But usage share is very important. It tells web developers, content creators, and advertisers where they should be focusing.
“Laugh-a while you can, monkey-boy!!”
@ken1w
I think Admob made it very clear that they report usage and NOT market share. It is pretty clear that the iPhone does not make up 40% of all mobile phones, or even smart phones currently on the market. Bottom line is that iPhone users are able to make the most of their access to the internet….and do!
My favorite moment in the video clip is when monkey boy says, “Let’s see how the competition goes.” Yes, Ballmy, how is that competition going?
And while we are at it, how is Apple keeping up with that “agenda” you were supposedly going to be “driving” in the music and entertainment market?
Doucher
It’s spooky to see that psychotic stare on Ballmer’s face.