All time high: Android and iOS power 85% of all smartphones shipped in Q2 – a new record for the mobile kings.
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It’s “a new combined high” for Google and Apple in the second quarter, analysts IDC said today.
Google’s Android now holds a “commanding” 68.1% share of all smartphones shipped, followed by No. 2 Apple iPhone – on 16.9% – leaving little left for former stalwarts BlackBerry and Nokia.
Apple’s no. 2 spot in the smartphone charts comes as demand for its cult iPhone has “cooled” off since the 4S release last October, as iPhone 5 is still pie in the sky.
However iOS remained the No. 2 OS behind Android, say IDC.
Android’s massive invasion of the smartphone market is attributed to the success of Samsung, the world top phone maker, which accounted for 44% of all Droids shipped (or more than the next seven Android vendors’ volumes combined) and the release of the new 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
Other ‘Droid vendors, including the likes of HTC, LG and Motorola, were “re-establishing their strategies or growing volumes,” IDC said, adding “Android continues to fire on all cylinders.”
Meanwhile former smartphone kings- BlackBerry and Symbian- both account for just 5% of the market each.
“The mobile OS market is now unquestionably a two-horse race due to the dominance of Android and iOS,” said Kevin Restivo, IDC’s senior research analyst.
However, the smartphone OS battle is “far from over” warned Restivo, adding there is still room for some mobile OS competitors to gain share, although noted this may be increasingly difficult as smartphone penetration increases. Overall, the smartphone market grew 42% in Q2.
Growth wise in Q2, Android shipments rose 106.5%, Apple 27.5%, while Microsoft Windows Phone 7 / Windows Mobile OS actually grew more than the leaders – at 115% – although from a low base.
Windows now accounts for 3.5% of all phones shipped and could be given a boost by Windows 8 due out this year, says IDC.
“Though it’s closing in on the third spot, Windows Phone is still a distant competitor to Android and iOS. Microsoft will need to generate additional momentum from Windows Phone 8 devices, which will be introduced this fall”.
Now that RIM has delayed the release of new BlackBerry 10 smartphones out to 2013, BlackBerry remains “vulnerable” to rivals, the analysts also warned.
