Android doubles Chinese share in 2011 as iOS fails to make impact

China may be the prime target for growth for all smartphone platform holders moving forward,  but currently only one OS is making major inroads in the region.

Numbers published by Analysys International for fiscal 2011 show Android rose from a base of 33.6 percent of smartphone sales in Q1 to finish on 68.4 percent in Q4 - the platform more than doubling its hand across the course of the year.

Out in front

Interestingly, Google's growth has played out against a backdrop of iOS failing to make its oft predicted major assault on the market, with Apple's OS currently sitting in third spot.

Early signs were encouraging for iOS, with Apple's share growing to 7.1 percent in Q2, though the platform has since fallen back, finishing the year on a 5.7 percent share.

That means, despite Symbian losing more than half its share in the process, Apple has been unable to serious challenge for second spot in the country to date.

Highs and lows

According to Analysys, iPhone has found the market hard going because of its undoubted focus on high end consumers.

"iOS provides consumers with choices of high quality price ratio," said Analysys of its findings.

"iPhone's high price and penetration capability are unable to satisfy the needs of medium and low market."

The firm's findings tie in with those made by Chinese ad platform Madhouse, which reported iPhone 4 the most popular smartphone in the country  lost market share in Q4 2011, with all Android handsets combined holding 64 percent of the market.