IDC released their “Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker” report with some interesting forecasts. First, by the end of 2011 manufacturers will have shipped 472 million smartphones, up 55% compared to 2010 (305 million). Then, according to IDC analyst Kevin Restivo, “The smartphone floodgates are open wide” with a billion (982 million) smartphones shipped by the end of 2015. The reason for the massive jump is due to the low cost handset prices, low data plans (we are only seeing this with the new entrants) and increased phone functionality such as apps.
IDC predicted that Google’s Android OS would take over as the top smartphone operating system this year, which has happened. By the end of 2011 Android will lead the market with 38.9%, then continue their domination into 2015 with 43.8% of the smartphone OS market share. Nokia will end this year with 20.6% market share and with its transition into Windows Phone will capture 20.3% by 2015. In regards to Apple’s iOS, 18.2% by the end of 2011 but slips to 16.9% in 2015. Then, unfortunately, things aren’t looking good for RIM. IDC predicts they will fall further behind with a total smartphone OS market share of 13.4% in 2015.
Source: IDC
Via: IntoMobile
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