Apple's iPhone 6 dents Android's crown

CNBC ^ | January 6 2015 | by Matt Clinch

[Swordmaker]

Android's share of the smartphone market has shrunk in the U.S. for the first time since 2013, according to new research, as the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus helped Apple's iOS make market-share gains around the world.

The market share of Android -- the mobile operating software developed by Google – fell by 2 percentage points, year-on-year, in the U.S. over the three months ending November 2014, according to Kantar Worldpanel on Wednesday.

It also slipped by over 3 percentage points across Europe's five biggest countries, and tanked by 6.7 percentage points in the U.K.

Dominic Sunnebo, the strategic insight director at Kantar, predicted more gains for Apple in the future due to the popularity of its newest iPhone models.

"The longer the new iPhone models are on the market the more their appeal will extend beyond Apple's loyal customers," he said in a press release.

Officially released in stores in September, sales of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus across the world topped 10 million in on the first weekend, according to Apple, managing to eclipse the launch figures of the previous 5S and 5C models.

Customers switching from Android to iOS – Apple's iOS -- remains stable at 18 percent, according to the Kantar, although it was especially pronounced in certain regions.

Between September and November 2014, Apple's share of the market grew to 42.5 percent in the U.K -- a growth rate of 12.2 percentage points year-on-year.

In the U.S., Apple accounted for 47.4 percent of sales, 4.3 percentage points higher than during the same period in 2013. Meanwhile in China, Apple sales increased by 1.1 percentage points, bringing Apple's share of the smartphone market to 18.1 percent.

"Android fatigue is setting in," Neil Mawston, mobile analyst at Strategy Analytics, told CNBC via email. "Android, rather like Symbian a few years ago, has become too popular for its own good."

Mawston argued in November 2014 that Android's market share could have peaked, suggesting that some device manufacturers no longer wanted to put all their eggs in one "Android basket." Instead, some were searching for alternative platforms to work with, such as Microsoft or Firefox, according to Mawston.

However, it might not be all bad news for Android and its ecosystem, which still dominates in every region except Japan, according to the data.

Carolina Milanesi, chief of research at Kantar Worldpanel, stressed that Android (unlike iOS) is used by a range of brands, and it is these consumers driving the different fortunes for each of the players in the ecosystem.

Thus, Kantar's research showed that Samsung - which uses Android - was seeing some sales pressure and market share decline, but Motorola's - which also uses Android - share grew thanks to the Moto X and Moto G models "offering good value for the money."

[Gator113]

I have one of the big black first addition iPods. I don’t use it much anymore, but it still works in a guest bedroom.

I own a 27” iMac, my second iMac, and I have never had a problem with it.

I own the first addition iPod and it works just fine....I use it every day while in the reading room.

I have a new fire breathing 15” Macbook Pro with retina... I flat love this guy.

I just bought a new iPhone 6 and I love it!!! My wife tossed her DroidX because it had a bad battery and I gave her my old iPhone 4S.... she is a very happy camper.

While buying my new iPhone 6, I managed to hang on to my “unlimited data” package on my service plan.

ANY time I have ever had a question or a temporary issue, the folks at Apple - “Apple Care” have ALWAYS been helpful, competent and professional.

I still have 3 old MS computers around here collecting dust.... none of them work.

Now, I own some very nice guns, including a RockRiver 5.56 AR. I have not had any trouble with my AR, but if Apple sold AR’s, I would have to take a serious look at their guns. LOL

After all of that, I have somehow not turned homosexual and I still hope to pi$$ on Al Gore’s grave. Oh, I am presently shopping for a new Porsche..... that should send you to your crying room.

Oh, I have never worn a “thong”, but I suspect that is something you might be interested in.

Buy what you like and can afford.... I sure do.

Does your thong cause you to chafe in front or in back?

Enjoy life ~ it could end tomorrow.

[Gator113]

“I own the first addition iPod and it works just fine....I use it every day while in the reading room.”

Oops..... its the “iPad” that I use in the reading room.

So many Apple products that its tough to keep track. LOL

[Gator113]

LOL.... I don’t wear them either. See 21 & 22.

[SunkenCiv]

One anecdotal thing I’d noticed is, people are talking about the 6, that’s the first time I’d noticed a new model iPhone generating enough interest (they’re not cheap, and we’ve been in recession for years here) to have it come up in otherwise unrelated conversation.

[ReignOfError]

A lot of folks don’t keep up with technology at all — just today, I was demonstrating TouchID to someone who’d never heard of such a thing. I could see the iPhone 6 being a big draw to those folks, because big. And thin. Even if they have just a vague notion of what the similarities and differences are, they see something with the cachet of an iPhone and the size of a Galaxy.

My main phone is a 5s. When I got it last year, I kept my 4s, which I use as a backup phone, iPod and camera. When I hold the 4s in my hand. It’s still a really nice size for my relatively small hands. I suppose what I really want is a phone the size of a 4 with a screen the size of a 6. Stupid physics.

[SunkenCiv]

Hey, it’s Stone-age physics, like Fred Flintstone moving his feet long enough to get his car rolling and then just enjoying the ride.