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A recent survey by digital marketing intelligence outfit comScore reveals that Apple's iOS still outreaches Android OS in the US. The operating system that runs on iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches has a combined reach of 37.9 million, outreaching Google's Android platform by a whopping 59 percent.
Interestingly, the analytics firm noted that the installed base of iPhones exceeded that of iPod Touches, and the two of them were twice as high as the number of iPads. Of the 37.9 million users, only 4 million (10.5 percent) accessed the iOS platform through more than one device. However, the report doesn't provide the exact breakdown of iOS users by device.
|
Apple iOS vs. Android OS Across Media Devices |
||
|
|
Total Installed Base (000) |
Share (%) of Mobile Subscribers |
|
Total Subscribers |
234,000 |
100.0% |
|
Apple iOS |
37,868 |
16.2% |
|
Android OS |
23,763 |
10.2% |
MarkDonovan, comScore SVP of mobile, noted that "these data clearly illustrate the Apple ecosystem extends far beyond the iPhone." He also noted that this "has significant implications for the developer community as they consider the market potential in developing applications for different mobile platforms."
Whether or not this data tells people anything new, however, is another matter. ComScore is using this release to promote the fact that it's adding all connected devices to its survey, but surely everyone was already aware of how many more devices other than the iPhone come with iOS.
As Apple-watcher John Gruber blogged: "No, it is not ‘incredible'. It is completely obvious to anyone who actually looks at how many iPod Touches and iPads people have bought. Smartphone market share is not platform market share."
The research also noted that iPad ownership extends beyond fervent Apple fanboys. While Apple is indeed the most heavily represented OEM among iPad owners, its OEM share (27.3 percent) is only slightly higher than its share among all smartphone subscribers (25.2 percent).
|
Mobile Phone OEM Breakdown for Apple iPad Owners |
|||
|
|
% of Smartphone Users |
% of iPad Users |
Index of iPad to Smartphone Owners* |
|
Total Subscribers |
100.0% |
100.0% |
100 |
|
Apple |
25.2% |
27.3% |
108 |
|
RIM |
28.9% |
17.5% |
61 |
|
Samsung |
8.6% |
14.3% |
167 |
|
LG |
3.6% |
12.1% |
340 |
|
Motorola |
10.7% |
9.0% |
84 |
|
Nokia |
2.3% |
3.4% |
149 |
Meanwhile, RIM accounts for the second highest percentage of iPad owners at 17.5 percent, but this is much below its overall smartphone market share of 28.9 percent. About14.2 percent of iPad users had Android phones.
The data also indicates that people in the age group of 25-34 tend to buy iPads more. iPads also exhibited significantly above average skews in the 18-24 year old and 35-44 year old segments.
The user base study is only US based; comScore will release its European figures in few days. Earlier this month, a comScore report revealed that Android accounts for 33 percent of all US smartphone subscribers.
