While iPhone owners will be clinging to their brand until the bitter end, it looks like Android will be there to capture just about everyone else in the mobile world. A recent survey by Nielsen showed that of those that had purchased a smartphone in the last three months, 56% of Americans picked up an Android handset. The same survey showed that the overall penetration for Android (regardless of when folks bought their phone) is currently sitting at 43%, while iPhone stayed at 28% in both categories. BlackBerry market share is shrinking predictably, with 9% having picked one up in the last three months, versus 18% overall penetration.
It goes without saying that Android has a ton of momentum behind it, but this illustrates the fact nicely, and gives us a sense of where smartphone shopping habits are headed. It’s interesting to see iPhone completely unchanged across recent acquirers and all smartphone subscribers, since it suggests that though few iPhone owners want to switch, iOS isn’t winning many new fans.
Of course, with an iPhone 5 announcement right around the corner, that may very well change, at least for the short term. Details on the next iOS smartphone are slim, so it’s hard to say just how popular it will be, but silly little details like specs and features seem to be inconsequential when it comes to purchasing decisions for many customers.
Now, I can’t help but wonder just how well this trend translates internationally…
[via Nielsen]