Android Mobile OS Continues to Gobble Market Share

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By Trey Thoelcke Published
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Google Inc.’s (NASDAQ: GOOG) Android mobile OS is on the march again, gobbling market share from its competition, even Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL). The only thing that might stop Android’s spread is a series of patent lawsuits many lawyers believe could be brought by Apple or Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT). Research firm IDC analysts report:

 The Android smartphone operating system was found on three out of every four smartphones shipped during the third quarter of 2012 (3Q12). According to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, total Android smartphone shipments worldwide reached 136.0 million units, accounting for 75.0% of the 181.1 million smartphones shipped in 3Q12. The 91.5% year-over-year growth was nearly double the overall market growth rate of 46.4%.

While Apple may make the most expensive smartphones, its iOS market share was only 15% in the quarter. Of course, iOS ships on only Apple phones. Android can be found on many, including those built by smartphone juggernaut Samsung. What the IDC report does not show is how many Android-based phones make money. Industry analysts expect that number is close to nil, except for those from Samsung, the profits margins of which are said to be quite small. Better to have little market share and make money than have large market share and lose it.

Douglas A. McIntyre

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About the Author Trey Thoelcke →

Trey has been an editor and author at 24/7 Wall St. for more than a decade, where he has published thousands of articles analyzing corporate earnings, dividend stocks, short interest, insider buying, private equity, and market trends. His comprehensive coverage spans the full spectrum of financial markets, from blue-chip stalwarts to emerging growth companies.

Beyond 24/7 Wall St., Trey has created and edited financial content for Benzinga and AOL's BloggingStocks, contributing additional hundreds of articles to the investment community. He previously oversaw the 24/7 Climate Insights site, managing editorial operations and content strategy, and currently oversees and creates content for My Investing News.

Trey's editorial expertise extends across multiple publishing environments. He served as production editor at Dearborn Financial Publishing and development editor at Kaplan, where he helped shape financial education materials. Earlier in his career, he worked as a writer-producer at SVE. His freelance editing portfolio includes work for prestigious clients such as Sage Publications, Rand McNally, the Institute for Supply Management, the American Library Association, Eggplant Literary Productions, and Spiegel.

Outside of financial journalism, Trey writes fiction and has been an active member of the writing community for years, overseeing a long-running critique group and moderating workshop sessions at regional conventions. He lives with his family in an old house in the Midwest.

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