Shipments of Android operating system-based Smartphones rose to over 211 million in the July- September quarter this year accounting for more than 80 percent of global mobile OS market share, research firm IDC said. "With a total base of 211.6 million smartphone units shipped during the quarter, Android accounted for 81 percent of all smartphone shipments, marking the first time Android topped 80 percent in its short history," IDC said.
Despite high saturation rates in number of mature markets, the overall smartphone space grew 39.9 percent year-over-year (y-o-y) in the third quarter, it added.
Another major success story was that of Windows Phone OS, which grew by 156 percent y-o-y.
"Granted, volumes started from a small base of 3.7 million units a year ago and overall market share is still less than five per cent. But Microsoft's efforts, with Nokia's support behind it, helped drive the platform into multiple tiers and price points," IDC noted.
Android and Windows Phone continued to make significant strides in the third quarter. Despite their differences in market share, they both have one important factor behind their success, price, IDC Mobile Phone team Research Manager Ramon Llamas said.
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