Apple's iPhone Gains Ground in the Growing U.S. Smartphone Market

[Akshay Masand]

February marks the period of time where smartphone users accounted for nearly half of all wireless subscribers in the U.S. Furthermore, Apple’s iPhone adoption rate continues to gain some ground while Android handset activations slip.

According to recent data from Nielsen, Apple iPhone sales ended up accounting for 43% of all new smartphones purchases over the past three months (a 6% increase from the period ending in December). Android’s share fell roughly 4% to cover 48% of all activations. Apple’s iOS platform (which now accounts for 32% of all smartphones) seems to be closing the gap with Google’s Android platform. It was noted that the iPhone isn’t technically converting Android users but is instead picking up deserters from RIM’s sinking BlackBerry platform.

Android continues to maintain its top position with 48% of the smartphone market. Both Android and iOS seem to primarily have a duopoly in the smartphone market as RIM comes in third place with a 12% share. Other devices such as Windows Phone and Symbian seemed to fill out the list with an 8% stake. The smartphone market as a whole now accounts for 49.7% of all mobile subscribers with a whopping 38% increase from the same time last year when feature phones seemed to dominate the industry.



At the end of the three months, more than two-thirds of the people who purchased a new mobile device seemed to prefer a smartphone – a trend that is likely to continue going forward.

Source: Nielsen

[subywrex]

Not to bad considering that the iPhone is one phone and android is many ranging from free with a contract to $200+

[Norb]

Not to bad considering that the iPhone is one phone and android is many ranging from free with a contract to $200+

Yeah not too shabby that one company is able to design the hardware, software and market a phone that 43% of smartphone users own. The other consideration is that there is now a total of only 5 different phones that make this number up. That is ridiculous!

[iPod]

Bring on the apple fanboys and the fandroids.....

[redstar299]

Apple is also short one major carrier - T Mobile

[Norb]

Bring on the apple fanboys and the fandroids.....

Considering you have an Apple avatar and name yourself after an Apple product, you seem to be correct!

[budsalinger]

here here! or is it, hear hear!

[Maxime Caudebec]

Once apple adds support to china mobile for the iPhone 5, these numbers are going to go up really quickly