Android pushes iPhone behind in the US OS market
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: With so many evolutionary and revolutionary technologies flooding the mobile operating system market, most of them are in their first stage and this has given a welcome chance to Android to strengthen its position and score points over other platforms. Google’s Android has pushed Apple’s iPhone far behind by selling more numbers in the latter’s heartland market, the USA.
According to a research, Android-based handsets accounted for 28% of smartphone shipments in the US in the first quarter which was well ahead of Apple on 21% but lagging behind RIM on 36%. USA is a market where Symbian hardly figures, webOS is in limbo, and Microsoft is readying a new platform and under such condition, it’s the iPhone OS that needs to be beaten.
The peculiar carrier politics of North America is playing a very major role in the change in market share equations and the era of dominance of RIM and Apple seems to be over despite the fact that a new iPhone is coming to fore next month and is likely to boost Apple sales again.
The marketing activities of Verizon Wireless offering the Motorola Droid and HTC Droid Eris as its Android flagships, plus a range of BlackBerry models, played a very important role in significant leap forward. Verizon has now woken up from its deep slumber and is ready to take over AT&T by extending RIM dominance with a strong Android strategy.
AT&T is the only major iPhone exclusive in the USA currently and is putting huge efforts into making the Apple handset a success. But even with increase in the market share, it is having diminishing returns. Verizon is preparing to launch the high end HTC Incredible, and gain a strong response to any new iPhone to cure ‘iPhone envy’ and switch the lust of many consumers towards Android.
Nokia emerges highest smartphone seller in a research
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Nokia continues its lead in the number of mobile phones shipped, in the report issued by a research company on worldwide mobile phone sales. Although Nokia and Symbian have been losing their market share by a few percent, in the smartphone sector they still lead by a comfortable margin.
36 percent market share is occupied by Nokia while Samsung is in second place with 19 percent of the market, increasing its share by just over 3 percent. 2% growth is also witnessed by LG which occupies the third position.
Motorola and Sony Ericsson emerged as the biggest losers with their sales plummeting and the market share dropping alarmingly. Motorola’s market share fell to just 4.8 percent in 2009 while Sony Ericsson fell from 7.6 percent to 4.5 percent during the same period.
Nokia, Sony Ericsson Eyeing Korean 3G Mobile Phone Market
Global mobile phone heavyweights such as Nokia and Sony Ericsson are now keen to expand into the Korean 3G mobile (WCDMA and HSDPA) market. Yet, they still face a major barrier of the country¡¯s wireless Internet standard ‘Wi-Pi’The world¡¯s first and fourth largest mobile phone companies are now tapping into deals with local wireless operators like SK Telecom and KTF, aiming to jump into competition in Korea.
The multinational firms are seeking to provide single band single mode phones without changes in platforms and software so as to save initial costs. SK Telecom and KTF are in talks with these mobile phone companies, which they expect to help reinforce the lineups of handsets.
Nokia withdrew from the Korean CDMA phone market in 2003, and is gearing up to re-enter the market in 4 years.
The company accounts for 33% of the world market, and is also the No. 1 provider of asynchronous 3G handset. The company¡¯s expansion into the market will most likely change the landscape significantly.
Sony Ericsson, which successfully launched ‘Walkman Phone,’ is also tapping into a deal with a local wireless operator via Sony.
“We are willing to talk with all the mobile phone companies including Nokia and Sony Ericsson,” said a manager of SK Telecom, hinting that it may sell 3G phones made by multinational vendors.
Industry observers point out, however, that the country¡¯s wireless Internet platform ‘Wi-Pi’ remains a stumbling block to their expansion. Nokia has been using smart phone operating system Symbian ‘Series 60,’ and will not likely adopt ‘Wi-Pi’ for business in Korea.”SBSM handsets without Wi-Pi can still offer global roaming,” said an industry observer. “We doubt the mobile phone company will offer a platform that suits the local environment.”
¡°We are talking with Nokia on Wi-Pi and other features such as DMB,¡± said a manager at KTF.
Source- http://english.etnews.co.kr
Technorati : 3G, Ericsson, Mobile, Nokia, Sony, South Korea
Ice Rocket : 3G, Ericsson, Mobile, Nokia, Sony, South Korea
