Android conquers 48% of smartphone market: Canalys

The final worldwide country-level Q2 2011 smartphone market survey published by Canalys shows that Android leads in 35 of the 56 countries that have been tracked. The Android OS has now achieved a global market share of 48 percent, according to Canalys. The international market for all kinds of smartphones has grown by 73 percent year-on-year, with in excess of 107.7 million units shipping in the second quarter of 2011. Asia Pacific (APAC) remained the largest regional market, with 39.8 million units shipping there, compared with 35.0 million in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and 32.9 million in the Americas.

By shipments, Android is the number one platform since Q4 2010. It was also the strongest growth driver this quarter, with Android-based smart phone shipments going up 379 percent over a year ago to 51.9 million units. Android, which Google acquired in 2005 and launched on phones in 2008, is used by almost all the major phone makers including companies like Samsung, HTC, LG, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, ZTE and Huawei.

However, Android's success has also resulted in a string of lawsuits from major tech companies. The lawsuit from Oracle is still being contested in court. Apple and Microsoft have also filed suits. Recently there was an adverse ruling against HTC, a major Android user. Microsoft has claimed in its lawsuit that it has an existing, perpetual license to Nortel patents. Incidental, Microsoft, whose own presence in the smartphone market is a mere 1 percent, receives money from deals reached with some Android handset makers but is pressing for more.

The final country-level data from Canalys shows there were particularly strong performances from Android devices in APAC countries, such as South Korea, where Android holds an 85% platform share, and Taiwan, where it has 71%.

The final worldwide country-level Q2 2011 smartphone market survey published by Canalys shows that Android leads in 35 of the 56 countries that have been tracked. The Android OS has now achieved a global market share of 48 percent, according to Canalys. The international market for all kinds of smartphones has grown by 73 percent year-on-year, with in excess of 107.7 million units shipping in the second quarter of 2011. Asia Pacific (APAC) remained the largest regional market, with 39.8 million units shipping there, compared with 35.0 million in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and 32.9 million in the Americas.

By shipments, Android is the number one platform since Q4 2010. It was also the strongest growth driver this quarter, with Android-based smart phone shipments going up 379 percent over a year ago to 51.9 million units. Android, which Google acquired in 2005 and launched on phones in 2008, is used by almost all the major phone makers including companies like Samsung, HTC, LG, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, ZTE and Huawei.

However, Android's success has also resulted in a string of lawsuits from major tech companies. The lawsuit from Oracle is still being contested in court. Apple and Microsoft have also filed suits. Recently there was an adverse ruling against HTC, a major Android user. Microsoft has claimed in its lawsuit that it has an existing, perpetual license to Nortel patents. Incidental, Microsoft, whose own presence in the smartphone market is a mere 1 percent, receives money from deals reached with some Android handset makers but is pressing for more.

The final country-level data from Canalys shows there were particularly strong performances from Android devices in APAC countries, such as South Korea, where Android holds an 85% platform share, and Taiwan, where it has 71%.