Apple’s iOS catching up with Google’s Android OS in US smartphone sales

8 Jul 2013

The Apple iPhone 5

In the latest quarterly analysis from Kantar Worldpanel, Apple iPhone sales grew 3.5pc in the run up to the end of May, while Android-based smartphone sales were static at around 0.1pc.

Android still remains the market leader, with 52pc marketshare followed by iOS with 41.9pc of sales.

Windows Phone is in third place with 4.6pc of sales, up 0.9pc on last year.

Verizon is still the largest carrier with 34.6pc of the market, followed by AT&T (29pc), Sprint (12.7pc) and T-Mobile with 10.1pc of smartphone sales.

“The highly anticipated release of the iPhone on T-Mobile has benefited iOS in the latest three-month period, though it has not yet impacted T-Mobile’s share in the market,” said Dominic Sunnebo, global consumer insight director with Kantar Worldpanel.

Smartphone sales in Q2

For the three months ending May 2013, the iPhone 5 was the best-selling smartphone at T-Mobile, despite the fact it came out in the middle of the sales period in April.

iPhone sales accounted for 31pc of T-Mobile’s smartphone sales over this period. While this is comparatively lower than AT&T (iOS accounting for 60.5pc of AT&T sales) and Verizon (43.8pc), a full quarter’s worth of purchasing next month may impact T-Mobile’s overall sales share.

Sunnebo continued: “iOS’ strength on T-Mobile appears to be the ability to attract first-time smartphone buyers, upgrading from a feature phone. Of T-Mobile consumers who bought an iOS device since it launched on the carrier, 53pc had previously owned a feature phone, well above the market average of 45pc of iOS owners who previously owned a feature phone.”

“Furthermore, of T-Mobile customers planning to change device within the coming year, 28pc plan to upgrade to an iPhone for their next device.”

Sunnebo said it remains to be seen whether the strength of iOS on T-Mobile can help reverse T-Mobile’s decline, but the upcoming months will be of key importance for both players, particularly to see whether these consumers do follow through with their intentions.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com