The latest data from comScore was released today on the mobile phone market and shows Google's (GOOG) Android platform flourishing, rapidly gobbling up market share from competitors. Smartphone ownership overall jumped 14% for the three months ended October 2010 over the previous three-month period with now fully 25% of cell phone users owning a smartphone. While Research In Motion (RIMM) still dominates the market with 35.8% of the market, its share is continuing to erode as Apple (AAPL) and Google (GOOG) steal would-be customers. Microsoft (MSFT) and Palm (HPQ) round out the lowest shares of the market.
Google's (GOOG) Android platform has been well-received by customers with the Android now accounting for almost a quarter of the smartphone market, up an impressive 6.5% over the previous three month period. The Android's initial release was in October 2008, just over two years ago, but the free and open source software was quickly seen as the best choice for many OEMs including Samsung, LG, HTC and others. The momentum is clearly in Google's favor at this point in time.
Smartphone Platform Market Share
Platform | July 2010 | October 2010 | Point Change |
| RIM | 39.3% | 35.8% | -3.5 |
| Apple | 23.8% | 24.6% | 0.8 |
17.0% | 23.5% | 6.5 | |
| Microsoft | 11.8% | 9.7% | -2.1 |
| Palm | 4.9% | 3.9% | -1.0 |
Previous posts on Google (GOOG):
Google (GOOG) a Value Play ~ September 17, 2010
Brandon R. Rowley
"Chance favors the prepared mind."
*DISCLOSURE: Long AAPL.