Gartner has just made interesting projections on mobile operating systems market. It says by 2012, Android would surpass Apple, Windows, and Blackberry to take the second spot after Symbian. However, it will threaten Apple, but primarily carve out its share from Symbian’s market. Symbian’s share will stand at 39 per cent, which is a fall in its share, but not in its ranking.
As things stand now, Symbian, which runs on almost half the smartphones, leads the crowd. Following behind is Apple’s OS. Recent entrant Google’s Android has less than 2 per cent of the market share, and is at sixth position. Android will work up a decent share for itself over the next couple of years, according to the report.
There are quite a few reasons for Android’s projected increase in growth. Chief among them is the fact that Google is behind it. Znet’s Andrew Nusca lists out five reasons. First, it has the Google backing. Second, Android is slowly gaining in popularity. Third, it is an open source software, which will help gain support from developers. Fourth, it is catching up among handsets such as Motorola and Samsung. Fifth, Nusca says that Android gives a good combination of the best features on an OS, thereby eliminating the disadvantages.
Gartner says by 2012 that Windows will have a share of 12.8 per cent, Blackberry will hold 12.5 per cent, Various Linux OS will hold 5.4 per cent, and webOS will have 2.1 per cent. Android will be the greatest gainer and will move from sixth position today to the second. Blackberry OS will be the biggest loser, moving from second spot to fifth. Apple and Windows will retain their current positions, at third and fourth respectively.
Mobile advertising firm AdMob’s numbers support Gartner’s. The worldwide share of Symbian OS came down from 43% to 34% between February 2009 and August 2009, according to Admobs. In the same period, iPhone and Android gained market by 7% and 5% respectively by eating into Symbian and Windows share.