Data & Research

Symbian's European lead skewed as 31% of 'active' connected devices in EU5 run iOS, reports comScore

iPad generates 43 percent of non-PC web traffic

Symbian's European lead skewed as 31% of 'active' connected devices in EU5 run iOS, reports comScore
Mobile usage may be on the rise across the EU5, but according to comScore, numbers suggesting Symbian is the biggest smartphone platform on the market are misleading.

In the three month period ending August 2011, comScore registered a total of 91 million smartphones users across France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, up 46 percent year on year.

But while technically Symbian has more handsets out in the wild, many are dormant, with iOS now boasting the largest market share in terms of what comScore dubs 'current' use.

Apple edging Symbian

In all, iOS has a 31 percent share of 'connected devices' in use, edging ahead of Symbian on 29 percent.

In third spot is Android on 24 percent, with BlackBerry on 8 percent and Windows Phone on 6 percent.



In terms of internet traffic – comScore monitoring non-computer-based page views - iOS again led the pack with a 61 percent share, with 43 percent of traffic coming from iPad users.



Android has some catching up to do with a 21 percent share while RIM is further behind on 9 percent.

UK can't stop gaming

Interesting, comScore's numbers also proclaim the UK a gaming giant. More smartphone users on British shores – 33 percent in all - play games than elsewhere in the EU5.

Italy has thee second highest share of mobile gamers with 30 percent , while 28 percent of Spanish owners also take on titles on the go.



"While we have seen the increasing adoption of smartphones in the EU5 contribute to the rapid growth of mobile media consumption, we are also beginning to see tablets and other connected devices play an increasing role," said Jeremy Copp, comScore vice president for mobile in Europe.

"With more options available for consuming digital media on the go than ever before, many users now access online content from multiple platforms throughout the day.

"This media fragmentation has made it more important than ever for advertisers and publishers to take a holistic view of audience measurement to effectively reach their audiences."

[source: comScore]

When Matt was 7 years old he didn't write to Santa like the other little boys and girls. He wrote to Mario. When the rotund plumber replied, Matt's dedication to a life of gaming was established. Like an otaku David Carradine, he wandered the planet until becoming a writer at Pocket Gamer.