Global Smartphone Shipments Decline, Again

Smartphone vendors shipped a total of 355.2 million units during the third quarter of 2018, resulting in a year-over-year decline of 6 percent. This was the fourth consecutive quarter of year-over-year declines for the global smartphone market.

via IDC

Why Android Dominates Smartphone Software Apps

Since 2010, the smartphone landscape has changed beyond recognition. Unit sales have exploded, growing from 297 million to over 1.5 billion today, and squabbles over market share have been replaced by the ascendancy of two powerful platforms. The winner: an open source OS.

via World Economic Forum

Android Pay Enters the Mobile Apps Market in Spain

Android is undeniably Spain’s preferred smartphone operating system. Its share of advanced handset sales as of December 2016 was 87.2%, continuing a trend that since 2012 has seen Android power at least eight in 10 smartphones purchased in the country.

Source: eMarketer

Chinese Smartphone Vendors Gain New Market Share

Global sales of smartphones to end users totaled 380 million units in the first quarter of 2017 — that’s a 9.1 percent increase over the first quarter of 2016, according to the latest market study by Gartner.

Source: Digital Lifescapes

Outlook for New Smartphone Tech Innovation during 2017

Worldwide smartphone shipments will reach 1.45 billion units, with a year-over-year growth rate of just 0.6 percent in 2016, according to the latest market study by IDC. Although growth remains positive, it is down significantly from the 10.4 percent growth rate in 2015.

Source: Digital Lifescapes

Why Android Still Dominates the Media Tablet OS Market

Worldwide media tablet shipments, inclusive of slates and detachables, reached 38.7 million in the second quarter of 2016 (2Q16) according to the latest global market study by IDC. Growth continues to decline with the market receding 12.3 percent year-over-year as vendors begin to refocus their product lines and consumers wait on purchases.

Source: Digital Lifescapes

Two Companies Monopolize Smartphone Apps in America

Smartphones are in the hands of just about every American who wants one. The most important piece of software, from a consumer’s perspective, is likely to be a web browser. Most of these devices have a small number of software apps installed, and few are actually used on a regular basis.

Source: Digital Lifescapes

Mobile Payments Huge Upside Potential in U.S. Market

eMarketer expects mobile payments to take off in earnest during 2016, as more retailers continue to adopt mobile payments services — such as Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay.

Source: eMarketer

Volatility in Media Tablets Create Semiconductor Market Upside

Tablet processor market will grow by just 2.8 percent CAGR in revenues from 2015 to 2020 to reach $3.5 billion. The overall media tablet market slowdown and continued pricing pressure will result in slow revenue growth. But x86 Atom chip shipments will likely grow faster than ARM-based chip shipments over the next five years, as low-cost Android-based tablets gain market share.

Source: Strategy Analytics

How Google Android Now Leads Apple iOS Across the Globe

Google Android is now ahead of Apple iOS in all global regions. On mobile, Android lead peaks in APAC (60%) and LatAm (65%) where it has 5 times as many users as iOS. Only in North America, Apple’s home market, do we see this gap shrink.

Source: GlobalWebIndex