Android And Apple Rule : Nielsen Data Shouts Out Loud

Competing in the smartphone market was never considered an easy task, but in the tech world, there seems to be a duopoly by Android and Apple, leaving RIM, Nokia, Microsoft and others way too behind to compete. This was yet again confirmed by Nielsen’s latest smartphone ’state of the union’, which notified that Android and Apple if combined, would account for more than two times the total of all other smartphone manufacturers in totality.

If one follows the Nielsen data, there would be no doubt that the smartphone market is a race between only two horses in the U.S. Till 2008, Apple was leading, but the competition was fierce, but from the time Google has bombed the smartphone market with its own OS, Android, the competition seems to be limited.

Android has however dominated this section for almost a year, to be precise nine solid months. The Nielsen's data notes that Android-powered devices have earned a share of 43 percent approximately, while Apple has been left behind with a smaller, yet strong figure of 29 percent approximately. The stakes are high and these two in combination account for 70 percent approximately.

Android and Apple smartphones have basically attacked the market shares of other smartphone makers. RIM even has been able to knock out only three percentage points, while Microsoft is merely a six percentile in the total count.

We don't really see Nokia competing in the serious smartphone market as it holds only 1.7 percent of the total share. Agreed Nokia has been in the dumbphone market and is more than just successful in that section, but as it is stepping up in the smartphone world, it seems to be extra careful in its approach. One might see it progressing, once its partnership with Microsoft, to make Nokia smartphones powered by Windows OS, gets decent response. It would be good for Microsoft too. Nokia, might get a real shift next year, when its Lumia hits the U.S. market.

Thinking of it from the season special point of view, its holiday time and people would be looking out for the best devices to gift it to their relatives and friends. This season time might change the smartphone market share yet again. No doubt, Apple and Android would be the 'most demanded' ones yet again, but others have an almost equal chance too.

U.S. smartphone stats even note that only 44 percent of the U.S. market have a smartphone, which leaves other 56 percent, who can be targeted heavily. The festive season would only be a plus for the makers planning to target this unexplored section of more than 50 percent.

So, it seems to be clear. According to the stats, we have the number one, number two and number three in place. Who can be the number four? Or will Windows and Nokia target the number three slot, which seems to be quite realistic for the thought.