Kantar Worldpanel has released its quarterly data for the month ending March 2014, and it shows how various operating systems are performing in various regions. Android remained the top mobile operating system for the quarter, but Apple has seen a sharp increase in a few regions, and even surpassed Android in Japan. As for Windows Phone, the OS is slowly gaining popularity and has seen a rise in North America and Latin America, while the numbers have fallen for Europe, which may not be a good thing for Microsoft’s operating system.
“Apple regained ground in the first quarter of 2014, primarily due to the strong performance of the iPhone 5S, growing its sales share in Europe, Japan and Australia. By contrast, Windows had a tough start to the year as a result of its entry-level Nokia models facing fierce competition from low-end Motorola, LG and Samsung Android smartphones,” says Dominic Sunnebo, strategic insight director at Kantar Worldpanel.
Apple had a decent quarter as it saw a rise in its market share in several regions, especially Japan, where it even surpassed Android and resides at 57.6 percent. In Europe, iOS holds a 19.2 percent market share, with Android topping the charts with 70.7 percent.
As for the US, the Windows Phone market share has seen an increase compared to last quarter. The number now resides at 5.3 percent compared to 4.3 percent in December 2013, but it has fallen compared to the same quarter last year. The biggest blow to the OS came in Europe — countries include Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Spain and France — where it declined from 10.3 percent in December 2013 to 8.1 percent in March 2014. All European countries, except Germany, saw a sharp decrease in the Windows Phone market share.
However, things might move in a different direction with the launch of the Windows Phone 8.1. It brings several new features on board, which were really missing from the operating system. These figures may not be encouraging for Windows Phone, but the next quarter will be interesting.
You can also take a look at the chart below showcasing year-to-year change:
Further reading: Microsoft, Windows Phone
