Android to become #2 Worldwide by the end of 2010 According to Gartner
Many of our clients work on developing an iPhone app as their initial foray into the world of Mobile Applications. Once they have created that app they ask us if it makes sense to migrate to other mobile platforms such as Android or Blackberry.
According to the latest numbers provided by Gartner, it may soon make more sense to create an app for the Android as your initial entry into the mobile world. Gartner states, “Android will become the No. 2 worldwide mobile operating system by the end of 2010 and will challenge Symbian for the No. 1 position by 2014.” Symbian is the open source OS for Nokia phones.
Symbian and Android will account for 59.8% of mobile phone sales by 2014 worldwide according to Gartner.
Communication service providers’ (CSPs’) marketing and vendor support for Android-based smartphones will drive the platform to become the second-largest platform, following Symbian, by year-end 2010. This is almost two years earlier than Gartner predicted a year ago.
“The worldwide mobile OS market is dominated by four players: Symbian, Android, Research In Motion and iOS,” said Roberta Cozza, principal research analyst at Gartner. “Launches of updated operating systems — such as Apple iOS 4, BlackBerry OS 6, Symbian 3 and Symbian 4, and Windows Phone 7 — will help maintain strong growth in smartphones in 2H10 and 2011 and spur innovation. However, we believe that market share in the OS space will consolidate around a few key OS providers that have the most support from CSPs and developers and strong brand awareness with consumer and enterprise customers.”
Of course the platform that you develop for depends on more than just sheer numbers of units sold. You have to consider also who your target market is for your app, which devices they are using, and how each platform speaks to your users.
For more information on the future of mobile operating systems you can Read Accella’s report.
