THE INFLUX of devices such as the HTC Desire and the Samsung Galaxy S is boosting Android’s presence in the UK mobile phone market.
According to figures compiled by GFK Retail and Technology, Android’s share of the UK mobile contract market grew from three per cent in the first quarter of 2010 to 13.2 per cent in the second quarter.
So while contract sales overall have grown by less than one per cent, sales of Android phones have grown by 350 per cent.
This is impressive growth, but when you consider the push that manufacturers such as Samsung, HTC and Motorola have made on Android-based smartphones, it might not be that much of a surprise.
Android phones also had only Apple’s Iphone 3GS and 3G as competition for the first part of the year, so obviously people looking to buy phones at that time weren’t going to have their heads turned with the new Iphone 4, which is happening now.
But overall phones with an advanced OS have continued to grow, with people still inclined to sign up for expensive long-term contracts, even though by the end of those they’ll likely be in agony as they see people with new phones with the latest technology.
Smartphones accounted for 66.7 per cent of the contract market in the second quarter, compared to 55 per cent in the first quarter of 2010. The latest monthly figures show that smartphones accounted for 73.5 per cent of the contract market, most likely boosted by the launch of the iPhone 4.
[Via the inquirer]