Android takes 47.1% market share in UK while Apple falls to 3rd place behind BlackBerry...
[ed: Apple is crashing in UK... they used to own the market in Europe...no wonder they are taking to courts to try and stop their implosion... even BlackBerry now has passed CRAPple...LMFAO... too funny...]
Monday, September 5th, 2011
Android takes majority marketshare in UK
smartgorillas.com
 By Heather McLean
Android now holds almost half of the UK smartphone market, according to the latest research.
The small green android now has a 47.1% share of the British market, followed by BlackBerry (21.5%) and Apple (20.8%), research from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech for the 12 weeks ending 7 August shows.
Smartphones additionally made up 68.5% of sales over the 12 weeks, meaning that 41% of the GB population now own a smartphone.
However, Dominic Sunnebo, global consumer insight director at Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, commented that smartphones are verging on being identical in form: “While smartphones are quickly becoming the norm there are still new sales opportunities for manufacturers that innovate in terms of design. Smartphone design is in danger of becoming too standardised, with 90% of smartphones now using a Candybar shape, compared with only 54% in 2009, and 62% including a touchscreen function. With a lack of design differentiation, big name brands have to work harder to convince consumers to choose their products over another’s,” he warned.
“With increasing competition in the market manufacturers need to find ways to stand out,” continued Sunnebo. “One such way would be to target the over 45’s. Our research shows that this market is a key area for growth, with 17 million people aged 45-plus in Britain who still don’t own a smartphone, but these consumers want different things from their phone. For example, 27% of over-45’s chose their current handset for its ease of use, compared with only 12% of under-45s. Similarly, late converters gravitate towards physical keyboards and slider phones. If manufacturers can develop smartphones that attract this audience we are likely to see the market grow even further.”
The over-45s present a sales opportunity for the networks too. Once consumers over the age of 45 adopt a smartphone they are quick to take advantage of its functions. Also, 67% of 55 to 64 year olds surf the mobile web, while 43% use mobile maps.
Sunnebo added: “We are also now seeing that the type of software on a phone is influencing what handset a person buys. This has provided key opportunities for previously little-known manufacturers such as HTC and ZTE, who use popular operating systems. For example, 25% of consumers who purchased a ZTE smartphone claimed they did so because of the Android operating system.” |
