Android Fanboys Rejoice As Canalys Proclaims Android Is The “World’s Leading Smartphone Platform” [Android Overtakes Nokia As Top Smartphone Platform During Q4 2010 With Apple, RIM & Microsoft Rounding Out The Top 5]

Posted on TFTS by Robert Nelson on Monday, 31. January 2011 under: Mobile/Cell Phones

It looks like Android has taken a step up as of today, or perhaps more accurately as of the ending of Q4 2010. The numbers are coming courtesy of Canalys and they are showing that Android has moved into the number one spot in terms of smartphone market share.

So yes, it looks like Android is currently number one and while the Android fanboys are going to be out in full force proclaiming that Android is better than the iPhone, in reality I would argue that it is slightly more impressive with them besting Nokia. According to the numbers, Android has taken 32.9 percent of the market share with Nokia sitting slightly below with 30.6 percent. Then rounding out the top five we see Apple with 16.0 percent, RIM with 14.4 percent and Microsoft with a much lower 3.1 percent.

That said, I will give Android one pat on the back — the fact that they can say they beat Apple and RIM combined is fairly impressive. Of course, I have to point out the other side in this argument — there are many more Android smartphones (device types) around the world as opposed to the iPhone.

Anyway, further looking at these numbers and it is rather interesting to see what the difference a year had made. Back in Q4 of 2009 it was Nokia sitting in the number one spoliation with 44.4 percent of the market share. And rounding out the top 5 at that point was RIM with 20 percent, Apple with 16.3 percent, Android with 8.7 percent and Microsoft with 7.2 percent.

Yes, you read that correctly, Apple stayed about the same, RIM saw an increase and Nokia and Microsoft dropped with Microsoft going from 7.2 all the way down to 3.1. And then we had Android who went from 8.7 percent up to 32.9 percent. Rather impressive. Still, I am going to do my best today and avoid Twitter and the Android blogs because I am already tired of the fanboy comments. Why can’t mobile geeks all just get along?

Source

BoughtMyiPhoneIn2007
@Robert nelson:
“I have to point out the other side in this argument — there are many more Android smartphones (device types) around the world as opposed to the iPhone.”
How is that a valid point, exactly? All you did was to note how Apple made business decisions around iPhone production that have likely cost them sales and market-share. If that’s ‘the other side’ of anything it’s the other side of the business school campus….the Contrarian Wing, right out of ‘How to Combat a Closed, Vertical Business Model – 101′. LOL
OK, so – as usual – Steve Jobs declared that making just one handset offered his team tighter control of R&D, with likely benefits in increased efficiency, downstream. Fair enough – that’s his call. If Apple didn’t see – or, knowing Steve, simply ignored – the classic, flip-side shortcomings of this approach, then whose fault is that? You seem to be blaming Google.
Would you also say that Apple isn’t fairly competing, because they already had the best designers and 30-odd years of OS-development experience before Google acquired the Android team? Of course not. It’s absurd to suggest that Apple is ‘at fault’, merely by being well-prepared. And if Google doesn’t do their homework, beforehand, it’s on their heads.
Anyway, it’s not just you. This schoolyard argumenty appears on Apple forums, daily. I blame Steve’s Reality Distortion Field. He wants to believe Apple’s still the new kid, fighting for truth & justice against oppressive Big Blue. Well, it isn’t 1984 and the former Apple Computers, Inc., is as big as IBM ever was…maybe bigger. Makes you wonder who’s wearing the white hat, here. ;)