Smartphone market shares spell trouble for Nokia

When Stephen Elop announced his new strategy as CEO of Nokia he talked of a crucial “battle of ecosystems”. What he was referring to was the battle between Google (Android), Apple (iOS) and a potential third player in the competition to become the dominant operating system used to power smartphones and their apps. Elop decided to abandon further development of Nokia’s sum Ian operating system, preferring instead to partner with Microsoft in developing the Windows mobile system.

It looks like Elop and Microsoft might have a tougher battle on their hands than they might have imagined just a few months ago.

The latest market share data for smartphone operating systems (based on the 100million + sold in the three months to June 2011) shows that Google and Apple are emerging as clear frontrunners in the battle. Will there ever be space for a significant number three in the market if the Android and iOS systems continue to grow their market share as they have recently?

Here is the article in Marketing Magazine which describes the market share data in more detail.

http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/bulletin/dailynews/article/1084615

Lots of other information in there in addition to the battle for dominance of the smartphone ecosystem war.

For example, students might note how smartphones now account for one in four (25%) of all mobiles sold (up from 17% just three months ago).

Another surprising stat perhaps. Apple’s iPhone has a share of just 4.6% of the overall mobile phone market (measured in volumes of units sold rather than revenue or sales value).