The rise of the Android mobile operating system
Android has become the best-selling mobile phone platform in the world according to the research firm Canalys. There are more than 300 million Android devices in use as of February 2012. According to Google, more than 700,000 Android devices are activated every day worldwide from 21 OEMs in 48 countries and 59 carriers.
Android achieved a major milestone by reaching 500,000 apps in October 2011 and it only took 3 years to reach the milestone. Android Market is now the number two app store with more than 550,000 apps outperforming BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7 Marketplace, and Nokia’s OVI store, which lag far behind Apple and Android. Android Market has recorded more than 10 billion app downloads as of December 2011.
Android Market made its entry in October 2008 with just 34 apps and 9 games. Suddenly, he witnessed an increase in available applications with a whopping 500% increase in just under a year. Google is right behind Apple in mobile apps with iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad users accessing more than 500,000 iOS-based apps through the iTunes App Store. Apple’s App Store launched in July 2008 and managed to reach the 100,000 milestone in just over 16 months, several months after reaching 1.5 billion downloads.
Currently, Apple allows developers to sell applications through its App Store in 100 countries. Android Market is available in 46 countries and Blackberry is available in 65 markets with 6 language support.
Android entered the smartphone operating system industry a couple of years ago with the launch of the T-Mobile G1 and it paid off when many mobile phone manufacturers such as Motorola, Sony Ericsson and Samsung joined the bandwagon. Android acquired a large part of the market share during the first year of its launch.
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According to a latest market research report, in 2013 smartphones will grow to represent more than 27% of shipments worldwide, with a share in some developed Western European markets to exceed 60% and 48% in the Americas. from North. Recent and future releases of new smartphone operating systems, including iOS4, Blackberry OS 6, Symbian 3 and 4, and Windows Phone 7, will help sustain the current trend of strong growth in the smartphone industry, but the share of Market around the world will continue to revolve around these four keys. suppliers.
Smartphone makers such as Samsung, Sony Ericsson, LG and Motorola will use the Android platform for their new inexpensive devices that will help Android achieve number one status in North America.