The smartphone market from a US perspective at least has been dominated by three major players; Android, iOS and BlackBerry.
Numbers forecast by Ovum, however, suggests that, while Google and Apple are likely to remain key forces, Windows Phone 7 may soon supersede BlackBerry as the third major cog in the wheel.
Expanding Android
Against a backdrop of global smartphone shipments rising to 653 million by 2016 averaging out at a compound annual growth rate of 14.5 percent from 2010 onwards Ovum claims Android will see its share surge to 38 percent.
That will put Google's OS more than 20 percentage points ahead of rival iOS - itself on a share of 17.5 percent - with smartphones as a whole accounting for 40 percent of the entire mobile market.
"The smartphone market will see significant growth over the next five years, once again outperforming the wider mobile phone market," said principle analyst Adam Leach, revealing that Asia-Pacific will be the largest region with 200 million units shipped by 2016.
"The success of the Android platform is being driven by the sheer number of hardware vendors supporting it at both the high and low ends of the market."
Opening Windows
The most startling conclusion drawn by Ovum, however, surrounds the growth of Windows Phone 7.
While the firm warns some OEMs might be put off adopting the format following Microsoft's deal with Nokia a suggestion not backed up current developments with Acer Ovum believes its share will overtake BlackBerry and come close to drawing level with iOS by 2016, accounting for 17.2 percent of the market.
"For Microsoft, the deal provides a committed handset partner that has the potential to make Windows Phone a mainstream smartphone platform," Leach concluded.
[source: Datamonitor]
Data & Research
With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.
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