Android and iOS Will Dominate Different Mobile Segments in 2013
Let's face it, we're addicted to apps, which is why ABI Research is confident in forecasting that mobile users will download around 70 billion mobile apps in 2013. Half of those will belong to Android, while another 41 percent will be represented by the iOS camp, meaning more than 9 of 10 app downloads this year will be either Android or iOS.
Though the market share split is fairly close, the two competing platforms dominate different market segments. According to ABI Research, Android will account for 58 percent of the 56 billion smartphone app downloads in 2013, versus iOS at 33 percent. Microsoft's Windows Phone platform will sit in a distant third place with a less than 4 percent share, followed by BlackBerry at 3 percent.
"Arguably the most pressing issue for Google is how much of this handset momentum will ultimately trickle down to tablets, where Apple is holding the fort remarkably well. We would argue that in this context Google will actually benefit from the efforts by Amazon, since the presence of Kindle Fire adds a lot of critical ‘code mass’ to Android’s proposition as a platform for tablet applications. It is worth remembering that Android’s so-called fragmentation problem isn’t only a problem, but that it has a certain upside as well," said Aapo Markkanen, Senior analyst with ABI Research.
Out of the 14 billion app downloads for tablets, iOS will sit on top with a commanding 75 percent share of the market, versus Android at 17 percent (doesn't include Kindle Fire downloads, which will account for 4 percent). Windows tablets will manage just 2 percent of app downloads.
Though the market share split is fairly close, the two competing platforms dominate different market segments. According to ABI Research, Android will account for 58 percent of the 56 billion smartphone app downloads in 2013, versus iOS at 33 percent. Microsoft's Windows Phone platform will sit in a distant third place with a less than 4 percent share, followed by BlackBerry at 3 percent.
"Arguably the most pressing issue for Google is how much of this handset momentum will ultimately trickle down to tablets, where Apple is holding the fort remarkably well. We would argue that in this context Google will actually benefit from the efforts by Amazon, since the presence of Kindle Fire adds a lot of critical ‘code mass’ to Android’s proposition as a platform for tablet applications. It is worth remembering that Android’s so-called fragmentation problem isn’t only a problem, but that it has a certain upside as well," said Aapo Markkanen, Senior analyst with ABI Research.
Out of the 14 billion app downloads for tablets, iOS will sit on top with a commanding 75 percent share of the market, versus Android at 17 percent (doesn't include Kindle Fire downloads, which will account for 4 percent). Windows tablets will manage just 2 percent of app downloads.
