Google is struggling to cash in on its success in the smartphone operating system market, with Apple tipped to generate the majority of mobile app revenues in 2013.
Analysts at ABI Research forecast iOS devices will generate at least 66% of smartphone and tablet app revenues in 2013, despite Google’s Android operating system recently overtaking iOS in terms of device shipments. The firm predicts total mobile apps sales will hit $27 billion (€20.6 billion), and that sales of tablet apps will close in on more mature smartphone applications.
“[i]OS users continue to prove they’re more willing to depart [sic] with their cast. The revenue gap between the two leading OSes looks unlikely to close over the next 18 months,” senior analyst Josh Flood says.
ABI also notes that Microsoft’s Windows Phone and BlackBerry are expanding their apps catalog, but remain far behind market leaders iOS and Android, and tips tablet app revenues to surpass those from smartphones by 2017.