Android and iOS Swell to 96.3 Percent of the Smartphone Operating System Market

Android and iOS inched closer to total domination of the worldwide smartphone market in both the fourth quarter (4Q14) and the calendar year 2014 (CY14). According to data from the International Data Corporation Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, Android and iOS accounted for 96.3 percent of all smartphone shipments, up slightly from 95.6 percent in 4Q13 and from 93.8 percent in CY13. In terms of year-over-year shipment growth, Android outpaced the overall smartphone market for CY14 (32.0 percent vs 27.7 percent, respectively) while iOS beat the market in 4Q14 (46.1 percent vs 29.2 percent, respectively).

"Many of the same drivers were in play for Android and iOS to tighten their grip on the market," said Ramon Llamas, Research Manager with IDC's Mobile Phone team. "A combination of strong end-user demand, refreshed product portfolios, and the availability of low-cost devices -- particularly for Android -- drove volumes higher." "What will bear close observation is how the two operating systems fare in 2015 and beyond," added Llamas. "Now that Apple has entered the phablet market, there are few new opportunities for the company to address. Meanwhile, Samsung experienced flat growth in 2014, forcing Android to rely more heavily on smaller vendors to drive volumes higher."