Apple, Google gain in US smartphone market: survey

9 Jan 2013

SAN FRANCISCO, US: Apple and Google extended their dominance in the US smartphone market as 2012 neared its close, industry tracker comScore has said.

The share of smartphone service subscribers relying on Google's Android software inched up to 53.7% in the three months leading up to December, while Apple's portion grew to 35% from 34.3%, comScore reported.

The most popular mobile phones were made by South Korean consumer electronics titan Samsung, whose handsets were used by 26.9% of US telecom service subscribers, according to comScore.

Apple's coveted iPhones accounted for 18.5% of subscribers in the overall mobile phone market, up from 17.1% at the end of August.

Figures showing that the California companies are tightening their grips on the smartphone market were released as London-based Canonical weighed in with a business-oriented smartphone platform.

Canonical announced a smartphone interface version of its Ubuntu desktop computer operating system based on open-source Linux code.

Ubuntu smartphones will be able to dock with keyboards and monitors to provide personal computer capabilities, according to Canonical.

"We expect Ubuntu to be popular in the enterprise market, enabling customers to provision a single secure device for all PC, thin client and phone functions," Canonical chief executive Jane Silber said in a release.

"We also see an opportunity in basic smartphones that are used for the phone, SMS, web and email."

Dell, Lenovo, and Hewlett Packard are listed among computer makers who build Ubuntu into machines for the global market. Ubuntu runs on more than 20 million desktop computers, according to Canonical.

Smartphones powered by Ubuntu are not expected to be available until late this year or early next year.

Source: AFP via i-Net Bridge

Source: I-Net Bridge

For more than two decades, I-Net Bridge has been one of South Africa’s preferred electronic providers of innovative solutions, data of the highest calibre, reliable platforms and excellent supporting systems. Our products include workstations, web applications and data feeds packaged with in-depth news and powerful analytical tools empowering clients to make meaningful decisions.

We pride ourselves on our wide variety of in-house skills, encompassing multiple platforms and applications. These skills enable us to not only function as a first class facility, but also design, implement and support all our client needs at a level that confirms I-Net Bridge a leader in its field.

Go to: http://www.inet.co.za