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Apple and Google mobile grew in 2011, all others shrank
Every month, the NPD analyzes the mobile market and tracks the performance of smartphone platforms and manufacturers. Now that the year is almost over, the metrics company released a comprehensive report that summarizes January to October 2011. Not surprising, the results show that Android is in the lead, iOS is in second, and the rest are fighting for what's left over. Android and iOS combine to secure a whopping 82 percent of the smartphone market. Apple has 29 percent of the market, while Android has the lion's share with 53 percent. These two platforms were the only ones to record growth in 2011. RIM's BlackBerry OS, which has struggled this year, declined to a meager 8 percent of the market share. Newcomer Windows Phone 7 didn't plummet like RIM, but it didn't climb either. Throughout 2011, the platform never went above 2 percent. These trends for Android and iOS will likely continue into 2012. Android is available from different manufacturers and will continue to flood the market with handsets. Apple sells, at most, three models and will continue to trail Android. It's a volume number, and Apple's three models can't keep pace with Android's 100+ models. The other platforms, Windows Phone 7 and BlackBerry, may change depending on the success of their 2012 handset and tablet lineups. Nokia will introduce its Lumia line of Window Phone handsets in the US, and RIM is prepping phones with the QNX-based BlackBerry 10 OS. [Via Electronista]
Tablet LCD deliveries suggest big iPad delivery spike
Apple is facing the mother of all backlogs with the iPad 2, yet still producing enough tablets to be a major player in the tablet display market. Analysis released by Displaybank suggests Apple was responsible for the lion's share of 9.7-inch displays shipped in May. Apple's two LCD suppliers, LG and Samsung, were responsible for 4.5 million of the 5.38 million tablet displays that flew off the production line in May. Most of these 9.7-inch displays were destined for the iPad as relatively few competing tablets use the 9.7-inch size. The only other high-profile tablet using a 9.7-inch screen is the upcoming HP Touchpad, but its production is still at a minimal level. These numbers are only an estimate based on market analysis, but they do suggest iPad sales for the current quarter could be better than projected. Apple is expected to report its Q3 2011 earnings sometime in July.
The iPhone 4 sales ranking in Japan
Even in cell phone crazed Japan, the iPhone 4 is the top-selling handset according to a report from market research firm GfK Japan. Data from the first quarter of 2011 shows the 16 GB and 32 GB models in first and second place, respectively. Rounding out the top three is the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy S. The iPhone is a Softbank exclusive and has been wildly popular since its debut last June. The Japanese wireless carrier posted record profits in this past quarter thanks to strong sales of both the iPhone 4 and the iPad. [Via CrunchGear]
Analyst: iPhone mini could increase Apple's market reach by 6X, revenue 2.5X
Analyst Toni Sacconaghi of Bernstein Research predicts Apple could increase its addressable handset market by 6X in unit volume and 2.5X in revenue with the launch of a smaller, less expensive iPhone model, says Forbes. These projected numbers come from his analysis of handset market share and Apple's current market reach. Sacconaghi suggests Apple misses 60 percent of the handset market with its current strategy that limits distribution to select carriers and sells the iPhone at a relatively high price point. Sacconaghi predicts Apple could take two approaches with the cheap iPhone. In one scenario, Apple would produce the iPhone mini, a scaled-down version of the iPhone that would offer a less robust internet and App experience. The handset would be less data-intensive and would debut with a low-cost data plan that costs $15 or less per month. The other option would be to sell an "iPhone touch," which would be an iPhone without a data plan. This hypothetical beastie would have all the capabilities of the iPod touch plus voice calling, but no cellular data. 3G connectivity would be available but optional, a scenario that would let users rely on Wi-Fi for all their data needs. [It's not clear from the Forbes excerpt of the report if Sacconaghi is explicitly saying that hardware-wise, an "iPhone touch" is identical to an iPhone -- Apple would need to include all the 3G radio chips, antenna and corresponding battery power to handle 3G data if it's a customer-selectable option. --Ed.] Sacconaghi suggests that both of these handsets could debut with retail prices close to or less than $149. if Apple could capture even 5 percent of its missed market share with a cheap iPhone, the Cupertino company could see a minimum annual profit boost of $4.50 a share. [Another bit of confusion here; it's not at all clear that Toni S. is considering the unsubsidized price of the current iPhone, which starts at $599 and goes up from there. How we get from that price down to $149 without the full support of a carrier subsidy -- harder to justify without a revenue-rich data plan attached to the phone contract -- is not really clear. --Ed.] While Sacconaghi expects Apple will make this move to a less expensive model, he believes the chance of a summer launch is low. The analyst points out that Apple's iPhone 4 supply is still constrained, and the manufacturer would not want to steal the thunder from the launch of the iPhone 5 expected in June. If Apple were to pursue this low-cost option for the iPhone, perhaps a fall launch tied into its annual iPod refresh might be a more realistic possibility. Thoughts anyone?
iPhone profits swamp competitors
Now that the flurry of earnings from the last months of 2010 have been announced by all the major mobile phone manufacturers, Horace Dediu of Asymco has summarized these figures in several stunning graphs. The market analysis company has compared the market shares, sales shares and profit shares of the top eight mobile phone manufacturers in the world. While Nokia and Samsung lead in market share and in sales share, Apple thoroughly trounced them all when it comes to profit shares. This is not the first sign that Apple leads the pack when it comes to earnings and not volume of handsets sold. An earlier report suggests Apple's revenue from the iPhone and its accessories exceeds Nokia's revenue from its mobile devices and Ovi-branded services.
iPad tops 17 million tablets shipped in 2010
The tablet market exploded in 2010 with vendors shipping over 17 million tablets, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC), Worldwide Quarterly Media Tablet and eReader Tracker. The Apple iPad led the way with 87.4% market share. The remaining 12.6% is comprised of Android and other tablets. Among the Android devices, the Samsung Galaxy Tab takes top position with over one million Galaxy Tab units shipped in 2010. This explosion in the tablet market is expected to continue for the next two years. In 2011, vendors are expected to ship 44.6 million units with the US accounting for 40% of these tablet devices. This trend will continue in 2012 as worldwide tablet shipments are projected to climb to a staggering 70.8 million units, a four-fold increase from 2010. Apple led the tablet market in 2010 and is projected to retain its #1 position in the upcoming years. While Apple is forecasted to post impressive numbers, global tablet shipments will also be bolstered by the release of a variety of Android tablets as well as slate devices powered by alternative operating systems, including MeeGo and QNX. Growth will also be driven by competition and overall strong demand for tablets in consumer, mobile and corporate sectors. The upcoming year will be the first year in which competition will drive the tablet market. Apple is expected to launch the iPad 2, a second generation tablet device that may include dual cameras and (possibly) a high resolution display. Android will be on the rise with the launch of an LTE-enabled version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab, the Tegra 2-powered Motorola XOOM and the T-Mobile G-Slate. Outside of Android, we have the debut of the BlackBerry PlayBook and possibly more than one webOS tablet from HP/Palm. I know that I have an iPad 2 on my must-have list for the upcoming year. Anyone else plan to contribute to this 44.6 million units by snagging one or more of these tablet devices in 2011?
Android accounts for one-quarter of mobile web traffic, says Quantcast
It's terribly difficult to get reliable statistics, as numbers tend to vary drastically depending upon whom you ask, but if you're inclined to believe that Android is mopping up Apple and RIM's declining mobile mindshare in the US, you'll find nothing but corroboration from Quantcast. The analytics firm reckons a full one-quarter of mobile web traffic stateside comes from devices running Google's OS, though it's important to know that the iOS tallies apparently don't include the web-friendly iPad. You also might want to note that this is mobile web traffic here -- these days, we spend an increasing amount of our internet time in apps -- and since we're on a roll with the disclaimers, let's just add that these numbers have nothing to do with a company's financial success. Nokia can attest to that.
Analysts put 360 on top by 2010
It seems like some market research firm has a new prediction for the game industry every day. One day, the PS3 is on top. The next, it's Wii, Wii, Wii (all the way home). Today's chart is all about the 360. IDG estimates that the Xbox 360 will sell 23.9 million units in North America by 2010, followed by the PS3 at 23.5 million, with the Wii in a distant third at 13.6 million units sold. Okay, so for the 360's sake, it's really more of a tie. Granted, these numbers are only for North America, so we have no idea where this puts 360 in a global perspective. Still, most predictions we've seen put the PS3 on top. That makes this chart special. Take off your Fanboy hat for a minute and answer this question: could the 360 really outsell the entrenched juggernaut that is the Playstation?[Via Joystiq]
DFC analysts say Sony's PS3 may "end up third"
DFC Intelligence -- a market-forecasting agency -- have recently released their likely scenarios regarding the upcoming war o' consoles. They have an interesting set of scenario guidelines/factors they used in setting up how Sony would turn out. How'd they turn out? They say last third place. But keep in mind, they said, "When we say the PlayStation 3 could end up in third place that is a worst case scenario for Sony."If we look at the bulleted list on the site, the first three, summarized as: Current market position Current software library Other consoles' current software libraries There is no question Sony rocks the socks off of analysts for the first three points. The rest of the list? A little harder to discern a clear victor. These points consider: Expecting upcoming software for the PS3 (debatably good or bad) Upcoming software for competitors (debatably good or bad also) Price of PS3 measured against rivals Chance/amount of price drop Hardware/WOW! (NOT World of Warcraft...) factor A lot of debate had been risen from the fact GTA4 won't be exclusive to the PS3, however, according to DFC Intelligence, less than 20% of PS2 owners bought any of the titles. In fact, " Without GTA buyers, the PS2 would still have outsold the competition by more than 3 to 1." Nice. That's good news, even if speculation. So, will PS3 fall prey to the worst case scenario, or manage to stay on top (or even second) by the skin of its beautiful, beautiful teeth? Again, the Tokyo Game Show will hopefully give PS3 more positive press.[Edit: changed GTA4 won't be coming ... to GTA4 won't be exclusive to. Thanks, J. Dock]
