IDC: 80% of smartphones will be Android by 2018

Android operating system will dominate 80% of global smartphones shipped and 61% of revenues according to a new mobile phone forecast from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker.

[su_quote cite=”IDC”]With a worldwide smartphone forecast shipments of over 1.87 billion units in 2018, Android earns a lion share of over 1.49 billion units representing 80% of the market. Apple’s iOS will ship 240 million units representing 12.8% of the market. Windows Phone takes will control 5.6% of the market, with 105 million units. Other operating systems will control a paltry1.6% of the market, with only 30 million units shipments.[/su_quote]

IDC predicts that with the domination of Android in terms of volumes, it is no longer a possibility for new operating systems like Tizen and Firefox to compete on price alone – any underdog OS must bring a radically different appeal to gain any significant traction

Ramon Llamas, Research Manager with IDC’s Mobile Phones team says “Android’s multi-faceted approach – with forked versions and low-cost Android One strategy – will produce mixed results, yet it allows deeper penetration into emerging markets. That can lead to additional pressure on its vendor partners, who will need to seek greater differentiation in terms of devices and experiences in the hyper-competitive smartphone market.”

With a worldwide smartphone forecast shipments of over 1.87 billion units in 2018, Android earns a lion share of over 1.49 billion units representing 80% of the market. Apple’s iOS will ship 240 million units representing 12.8% of the market. Windows Phone takes will control 5.6% of the market, with 105 million units. Other operating systems will control a paltry1.6% of the market, with only 30 million units shipments.