Only 9% of Smartphones in 2017 Will Come from Microsoft, Report Says
Only 9% of Smartphones in 2017 Will Come from Microsoft, Report Says by UCStrategies Staff
According to new research from Analysys Mason, although Windows Phone is set to become the fastest growing OS in the next five years, it will only secure nine percent of the smartphone market share in 2017.
In terms of shipment, Windows will have the fastest growing OS, gaining momentum from 11 million units in 2011 to 136 million units by 2017. However, Windows smartphones will account for a mere nine percent of the world’s smartphone shipments in 2017, while Apple is expected to be at 23 percent and Android at 58 percent.
The report also indicates that Android-based smartphone shipments will comprise 58 percent of the world’s smartphone shipments by the end of 2013, meaning it would have maintained and stagnated at that market share level for the next four years even if the global market is growing. The reason given was the lack of other platforms that can be used by Android manufacturers to secure additional market share.
Another prediction is that smartphone upgrade is a factor that drives three out of four smartphone purchases by 2017, compared today when it is less than half.
In addition, smartphone connections are expected to increase approximately threefold in the next five years, reaching 3.4 billion in 2017. Smartphone shipments are also said to grow from 700 million, capturing 41.2 percent of total handset shipments in 2012, to 1.37 billion, or 70 percent of total handset shipments by the end of 2017. However, the rate of new smartphone connections will decrease from 39 percent in 2011 and 29 percent in 2012 to 20 percent in 2013.
The report is entitled “Smartphone markets: worldwide trends, forecasts and strategies 2012-2017,” and it offers, among other things, predictions on smartphone shipments, analyst views on Android, iOS, Windows Phone, and other operating systems, recommendations on smartphone retailing and pricing for operators, and data for 30 countries.
“Having a third significant OS player like Windows in the smartphone market would benefit mobile operators because it would reduce Apple’s and Google’s control over the market,” said Ronan de Renesse, author of the report and Principal Analyst for the Mobile Broadband and Devices research programme. “It would also encourage subscribers to move from one OS to another, as well as improve operators’ negotiating position in smartphone retail.”
De Renesse also went on to say that “this will create a significant strategy shift for stakeholders. Operators will have to increase the value of smartphone contracts by offering early handset upgrades and larger data allowances to retain customers, and handset vendors will have to develop stronger app and content ecosystems (as Apple has done) in order to increase loyalty.” (KOM) Link. Link.