It’s been just over a month since the iPhone overtook the BlackBerry in total U.S. market share and as we begin 2011, Apple still is in the top spot. This may not be the case for to long, however, because Android is poised to overtake RIM and Apple with the ridiculous growth that the platform is experiencing.
According to November 2010 data, Apple holds 28.6 percent of the U.S. smartphone market up slightly from 27.9 percent in October. Meanwhile, BlackBerry OS slipped again in November to 26.1 percent, down from 27.4 percent in October and 33.9 percent in June. Android OS closed the distance on Apple and RIM reaching 25.8 percent in November, compared to 22.7 percent in October and 15 percent in June.
It’s pretty clear that Android will over take RIM relatively soon. This would probably be true for Apple as well if it weren’t for the the fact that the iPhone is soon coming to Verizon. My gut tells me that the Verizon iPhone will become the fast selling smartphone ever and will probably hold of Android for a bit longer, while increasing the speed of the BlackBerry’s decline as the churn of current Verizon BlackBerry users that switch to the iPhone will probably be at all time high levels.
[Via Gigaom]
Agree with your ending comment there Robb. My wife is sitting on a Storm2 and can’t wait to jump to iPhone but only if it is on Verizon. Her mom has one on ATT and coverage is awful here, dropped calls and slow data all the time.
Me, both of mine are corporate Verizon accounts so I use what they give me. Can’t see us giving up BES though so little chance my Tour will become an Android or iPhone.
I know everyone is claiming once the iPhone comes to Verizon it’s the end of the world for the rest of the smartphone world.
I don’t know if I buy into that argument. The rest of the world does not have the exclusive carrier thing for the iPhone anymore (at least in Europe). iPhone is doing well in Europe but it’s not taking over the world.
I think the iPhone will do well. But the winner will be Verizon more than it will be for the iPhone. Most of the iPhone users I know will jump to Verizon and get the iPhone… But I know alot of BlackBerry and Droid users that won’t jump just because of the iPhone.
There will be a rush for the iPhone, yes… But I think you will find that it will play out in the stores like it always has. You have 5 minutes to capture the user. If the iPhone grabs you in 5 minutes the iPhone wins, if it’s the Android it will win…
I submit that people do not buy phones like other gadgets, where they do research, and buy into a platform, etc. This is how it breaks down in the first 5 minutes:
1) Does it match my shoes (ok, what I mean is do they like the look of the device)
2) Is it fast and responsive browsing menus and browsing the web.
3) Is the price right?
4) Can I get FaceBook, Email and Web?
If the smartphone can do that then people just grab it and buy it. I don’t think brand pulls as much weight for the general public as people might think.
When people pick up a BlackBerry and compare it to the Droid they go “man the BlackBerry is slow and has a small screen”… “I am going Droid”… They do this all in 5 minutes and then they are out the door for another two years.
This is in contrast to smartphone geeks like ourselves where we agonize over every detail and think about what phone we want for months (until our contract is up). I just don’t think the common Joe puts that much thought into it.
Now I know I will get flamed, and I know this next comment is biased. But when I pick up a iPhone I find it confusing and hard to use compared to the Droid. Also it’s alot slower. After 5 minutes compared to a Droid I go “Man, the iPhone is garbage”… I know, I know Apple is so EASY to use. Not for me. Maybe that’s because I am a techno geek and when they make is easy to use it’s actually harder for me?
That’s just my two cents!
@Brian – Most geeks like the Android OS better then iOS. I like it better myself.
Where do you think the Windows phones will stack up. I know they are new, but I assume they will be a contender.
I think they have a great shot. They seem to have the developers in their corner, more apps then WebOS has and WP7 has been out 2mos. It will take them some time to get to the level of Android or iOS, but if MS puts everything into this, they can do it. By passing the OEMs and Carriers for OS upgrades like iOS does is a big plus. The Android model sucks with phones like the Droid getting 2.2 back in Sept and those of us using Galaxy S phones, still waiting.
If we just look at Microsoft’s Developer tools using Silverlight they have a HUGE advantage over other platforms. But I think at this point people expect their apps to be on all platforms. I think we see that already, even on Web OS and BlackBerry. There are enough apps for it to not matter.
I have played with Windows Phone 7 and I think it will pass the 5 minute test I describe… For Microsoft it’s getting the IT departments in the back pocket again. Yes I know RIM thinks they have a lock on the Enterprise. They in large part do.
But Microsoft’s strength is on small business. I submit that is a bigger market. Until RIM directly supports ActiveSync on their phones they will fail in small businesses.
I know tons of IT guys that have no reason to install the free BESX… RIM touts it being free? IT guys are lazy… Do you think they will volunteer to manage another server? Hell no… Not unless they are forced to. With all the ActiveSync phones out there they can just say get a different smartphone. So I think you will see RIM’s “Enterprise” to just be for large businesses. That means RIM is in trouble of loosing my 5 minute test number 4. Having BESX only is a greater liability than a strength.
WebOS in my opinion is in trouble still. The focus shift to printer tablet stuff is bad in my opinion. I think that if HP would of kept everything of Palm in place, and just gave them the cash for marketing, they would of started to make a dent in market share. I have my doubts now.
I think Android has the best chance of winning my 5 minute test with Windows Phone 7 right behind it. Why is that? Hardware diversity. The more different models to choose from, the better that one will grab ya and “match your shoes”.
Just my two cents!
Nice Information,
By seeing chart one can clearly see that Android is capturing market share very quickly and by seeing chart we can also say that Apple and Rim will be over taken by Android very soon.
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