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As Google releases information about the latest upgrade to its Android mobile operating system (OS), where is the smartphone and tablet market, in India and globally, going? As Table 1 shows, Android dominates the market for smartphones. Apple's iOS runs on only 15 per cent of smartphones and Windows Phone on only 3.5 per cent. BlackBerry has shrunk to below one per cent.
As Table 2 shows, however, Android has a significantly lower price than its competitors - except for Windows Phone, which runs mainly on Nokias and has a relatively strong position in the Indian market.
As Table 3 reveals, Asia (aside from China) has a relatively small share of the smartphone market, but it is growing noticeably.
Table 4 shows that Samsung has dominated the market over the past few years - though Apple's iPhone is holding its own.
The growth of the Asian smartphone market will depend on migration from feature phones to smartphones in India - a migration that has picked up a great deal of speed, as Table 5 reveals.
Tables 6 and 7 show this is a real challenge for Nokia in particular - it has a strong presence in the feature phone market but is still struggling with its smartphones.
Finally, Table 8 shows market share for tablets in India - also led by Samsung.
