According to research company IDC, smartphone sales will continue to grow this year, with Android handsets set to be the biggest winners in the market as we head further into 2011. According to IDC, who are thought of as one of the most reliable market analysts, it is predicted that Google’s operating system will represent a massive 45% of the smartphone industry by 2015.
Ramon Llamas, who is a senior research analyst at the company stated Android is poised to take over as the leading smartphone operating system in 2011 after racing into the number two position in 2010. For the vendors who made Android the cornerstone of their smartphone strategies, 2010 was the coming-out party. This year will see a coronation party as these same vendors broaden and deepen their portfolios to reach more customers, particularly first-time smartphone users.
This is not the first time in recent weeks that analysts have tipped Android to further greatness. Mobile phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S continue to spread the word of Android around the world. Ovum, another big research firm, announced that Android will double its market share in the next 5 years, with principal analyst Adam Leach saying: ‘We will see dramatic shifts in dominance for smartphone software platforms, with Android storming into the lead with 38% market share, compared to Apple iOS 17.5% by 2016.
Somewhat surprisingly, IDC also predicted large growth for Windows 7 phone, perhaps due to the recent announcement that Microsoft will be teaming up with Nokia in the near future to produce smartphones with the Windows operating system running them.
It is thought by IDC that Windows will become the second biggest OS in the world by 2015, accounting for about one in every five smartphones. Of course these are just estimates but both Microsoft and Google should both have reasons to be cheerful.