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iOS still much bigger than Android in the US

by Janani Krishnaswamy on 20 April 2011, 11:47

Tags: comScore

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A recent survey by digital marketing intelligence outfit comScore reveals that Apple's iOS still outreaches Android OS in the US. The operating system that runs on iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches has a combined reach of 37.9 million, outreaching Google's Android platform by a whopping 59 percent.

Interestingly, the analytics firm noted that the installed base of iPhones exceeded that of iPod Touches, and the two of them were twice as high as the number of iPads. Of the 37.9 million users, only 4 million (10.5 percent) accessed the iOS platform through more than one device.  However, the report doesn't provide the exact breakdown of iOS users by device.

 

Apple iOS vs. Android OS Across Media Devices
3 Mo. Avg. Ending February 2011
Total U.S. Mobile Subscribers, Age 13+
Source: comScore MobiLens

 

Total Installed Base (000)

Share (%) of Mobile Subscribers

Total Subscribers

234,000

100.0%

Apple iOS

37,868

16.2%

Android OS

23,763

10.2%

 

MarkDonovan, comScore SVP of mobile, noted that "these data clearly illustrate the Apple ecosystem extends far beyond the iPhone." He also noted that this "has significant implications for the developer community as they consider the market potential in developing applications for different mobile platforms."

Whether or not this data tells people anything new, however, is another matter. ComScore is using this release to promote the fact that it's adding all connected devices to its survey, but surely everyone was already aware of how many more devices other than the iPhone come with iOS.

As Apple-watcher John Gruber blogged: "No, it is not ‘incredible'. It is completely obvious to anyone who actually looks at how many iPod Touches and iPads people have bought. Smartphone market share is not platform market share."

The research also noted that iPad ownership extends beyond fervent Apple fanboys. While Apple is indeed the most heavily represented OEM among iPad owners, its OEM share (27.3 percent) is only slightly higher than its share among all smartphone subscribers (25.2 percent).

 

Mobile Phone OEM Breakdown for Apple iPad Owners
3 Mo. Avg. Ending February 2011
Total U.S. Mobile Subscribers, Age 13+
Source: comScore MobiLens

 

% of Smartphone Users

% of iPad Users

Index of iPad to Smartphone Owners*

Total Subscribers

100.0%

100.0%

100

Apple

25.2%

27.3%

108

RIM

28.9%

17.5%

61

Samsung

8.6%

14.3%

167

LG

3.6%

12.1%

340

Motorola

10.7%

9.0%

84

Nokia

2.3%

3.4%

149

 

Meanwhile, RIM accounts for the second highest percentage of iPad owners at 17.5 percent, but this is much below its overall smartphone market share of 28.9 percent. About14.2 percent of iPad users had Android phones.

The data also indicates that people in the age group of 25-34 tend to buy iPads more. iPads also exhibited significantly above average skews in the 18-24 year old and 35-44 year old segments.

The user base study is only US based; comScore will release its European figures in few days. Earlier this month, a comScore report revealed that Android accounts for 33 percent of all US smartphone subscribers.

 



HEXUS Forums :: 5 Comments

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As has been mentioned in the article, this is not overly surprising..particularly as android (as a platform) has no direct competitor to the iPod Touch.

It would be interesting to see if someone does try and release one - possibly around the time that google finally get their music service up and running..it would be a bit fairer to compare then I think ;)

Of course getting the numbers excluding iPod devices would be even better, I expect apple would still have a bigger market share simply as there are zero true iPad competitors out there at the moment.
MarkDonovan, comScore SVP of mobile, noted that “these data clearly illustrate the Apple ecosystem extends far beyond the iPhone.”
Erm, iPod Touch and iPad - I don't think that this would constitute a far extension.
Spud1
As has been mentioned in the article, this is not overly surprising..particularly as android (as a platform) has no direct competitor to the iPod Touch. It would be interesting to see if someone does try and release one - possibly around the time that google finally get their music service up and running..it would be a bit fairer to compare then I think
No 'droid iPT competitor? What about Creative Zen Touch 2 range, various Archos devices, Samsung Galaxy Player (although that's supposed to be dire), Philips GoGear Connect. And that's just the ones I know about.

Don't think I'd want to trade in my old iPod (old style not a Touch) for any of them - a decent music player for Android is needed.

Actually, this might get me flamed, but a stripped Sony Xperia blessed with some of the music tech from the A-series Walkman's might be neat - especially if it “does” apps and can support LiveView. Sorry if that's off-topic …
Kinda proves me point - I didn't know that any of those devices existed! So I guess that there are some competitors then, just no successful ones..

In that case the comparison IS fair ;)
Spud1
Kinda proves me point - I didn't know that any of those devices existed! So I guess that there are some competitors then, just no successful ones.. In that case the comparison IS fair ;)
Fair point (and especially that it'll only get “interesting” once GoogleMusicStore goes online), although in defence of the small green one (Android) I should point out that apart from an Archos unit, all the ones I named are fairly new (as in only available this year).

Give it time (and assuming someone can do a decent music player app for Android) and I think we'll see quite a few folks ditching their Touch's for something else.
I think Apple made a smart move by adding all these features to iPod Touches. Music playback isn't the primary use of them I think… well not anymore.