The latest research from Strategy Analytics indicates that smartphone shipments in the United States fell 5% annually to reach less than 24 million units during the second quarter of 2012. Google Inc.’s (NASDAQ: GOOG) Android operating system lost ground to Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) iOS, which gained 10 points to 33%. Android’s market share fell four points on an annual basis to 56%.
Research In Motion Ltd.’s (NASDAQ: RIMM) BlackBerry experienced a decline in market share in the United States from about 11% to less than 7% over the past year. That was its lowest level in recent history. The company shipped 1.6 million smartphones in the second quarter.
“This was one of the slowest growth rates ever experienced by the important US smartphone market,” said Alex Spektor, associate director at Strategy Analytics. “A volatile economy, maturing penetration of smartphones among contract mobile subscribers, and major operators tightening their upgrade policies to enhance profits were among the main causes of the slowdown.”
Shares of Apple were up about 2% in early trading to about $597.02, in a 52-week range of $353.02 to $644.00. Google was up about 0.75% to $639.73, with a 52-week range of $480.60 to $670.25. And Research In Motion up about 2.5% to $7.57. Its 52-week range is $6.56 to $33.54.
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