While Google's Android platform continues to hold the top spot in key world markets, Microsoft's Windows Phone is experiencing strong European growth, according to new research from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.
Albeit that the research firm identifies Android as being the leading smartphone platform in the UK, Spain and Germany, it also found that Windows Phone is rapidly gaining ground in the UK and Italy. Kantar claims that the Microsoft software has gained market shares of 5.9 per cent in the UK and 13.9 per cent in Italy--up from just 2.2 per cent and 2.8 per cent a year ago.
Dominic Sunnebo, Kantar's global consumer insight director, said that the growth rate Android experienced over the past year is beginning to slow as easy wins from first-time smartphone buyers are fading.
"It has been far slower than Microsoft would have liked, but Windows Phone is now starting to gain respectable shares in a number of key European countries," Sunnebo said in a statement. "However, its performance in the Chinese and U.S. markets remains underwhelming. As the two largest smartphone markets in the world, these remain key challenges for Microsoft to overcome during 2013."
Apple's iOS performed well in the U.S. market, Kantar said, now holding 50 per cent of the market there for two consecutive periods and taking two-thirds of the rapidly expanding Japanese smartphone market.
Sunnebo also noted that, while Samsung has held on to the number one spot in the UK, claiming 35 per cent of smartphone sales, Nokia is experiencing something of a turnaround in the UK, with its smartphone sales share at 6.2 per cent and actual sales growing by over 50 per cent compared with last year.
For more:
- see this Kantar Worldpanel ComTech release
Related Articles:
Nokia gets Q4 boost from stronger Lumia sales
Nokia's stock jumps on report of strong Lumia sales in Sweden
Nokia buoyed by Lumia 920 deal with China Mobile
Analyzing the world's 11 biggest handset makers in Q3 2012
Is the Lumia 920 a turning point in Nokia's fortunes?
Analyst: iPhone 5 helps Apple gain market share in Europe