Here’s How Google Android Is Taking Over the World

by Jeff Reeves | August 1, 2014 10:03 am

Google (GOOG[1]) continues to tighten its stranglehold on the smartphone market, thanks to its Google Android OS.

Google Android logoAccording to the latest numbers by Strategy Analytics, Google Android market share is now at a staggering 85% of global smartphone shipments. By comparison, Apple (AAPL[2]) and its iOS operating system accounts for just 11.9% and Microsoft (MSFT[3]) and its Windows Phone finishes up at No. 3 with a mere 2.7%. BlackBerry (BBRY[4]) is slowly circling the drain at just 0.6%.

Even more impressive than the raw market share is that Google is getting even more dominant and its opponents are falling back in a market that is still in rapid growth mode. According to Strategy Analytics[5], smartphone shipments were up 27% last quarter vs. Q2 2013, hitting 295 million total units worldwide.

While anyone who saw Apple earnings[6] will surely know, iPhone sales continue to grow. However, its share of the market is declining; AAPL market share fell to 11.9% from 13.4% a year ago. MSFT and Windows Phone are in the same boat, with share down from 3.8% to 2.7%.

It all adds up to a massive tailwind for Google Android as it continues to get even more dominant.

It also adds up to strength for the hardware manufacturers who host the open source OS, including Samsung (SSNLF[7]) and HTC among others.

Of course, AAPL stock investors are hoping the release of a larger iPhones later this year will help the gadget company reclaim market share. Furthermore, the rise and fall of BlackBerry is proof that no cult gadget stays on top forever.

However, it’s hard to argue with these massive market share numbers for GOOG right now.

Jeff Reeves is the editor of InvestorPlace.com and the author of The Frugal Investor’s Guide to Finding Great Stocks. As of this writing, he did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. Write him at editor@investorplace.com or follow him on Twitter via @JeffReevesIP

Endnotes:

  1. GOOG: /stock-quotes/GOOG-stock-quote/
  2. AAPL: /stock-quotes/AAPL-stock-quote/
  3. MSFT: /stock-quotes/MSFT-stock-quote/
  4. BBRY: /stock-quotes/BBRY-stock-quote/
  5.  According to Strategy Analytics: http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/07/31/android-market-share-hits-new-record/?mod=trending_now_4
  6. Apple earnings: https://investorplace.com/2014/07/buy-apple-stock-aapl-earnings
  7. SSNLF: /stock-quotes/SSNLF-stock-quote/

Source URL: https://investorplace.com/2014/08/google-android-market-share-85/