AppleInsider Staff
While Apple remains the top smartphone maker, Google Android also retained its place as the most popular smartphone operating system in America. The survey found that Google's Android is the operating system on 43 percent of smartphones in the U.S.
Those numbers are unchanged from Nielsen's previous report issued in September, when the research firm also found a 28 percent share for the iPhone and 43 percent share for Android. In fact, Apple's 28 percent market share was also present in June.
Coming in third in the latest results, released on Thursday, was Research in Motion's BlackBerry platform, which accounted for 18 percent of smartphones. Microsoft's Windows Mobile took fourth with a share of 7 percent.
In all, smartphones now represent 43 percent of active handsets in the U.S. Most customers — 57 percent — still use "feature phones" instead.
The latest data from Nielsen did find that most adults aged 18 to 44 have, however, made the jump to a smartphone. A total of 62 percent of adults between the ages of 25 and 34 reported owning a smartphone, while the age groups of 18-to-24 and 35-to-44 were both said to have around 54 percent smartphone penetration.
But smartphones are much less popular outside of those age groups, dragging down the overall national average. Smartphone penetration in the 56-to-64 age group is just 30 percent — up 5 percent in the quarter — while 40 percent of children ages 12 through 17 reported owning a smartphone.
Marko Zivkovic
Wesley Hilliard
Malcolm Owen
Christine McKee
Andrew O'Hara
50 Comments
Makes sense, I really use my smart phone a lot since being in college. However, my father is retired, 61, its nearly impossible to talk him into having a cell phone, much less a smartphone. The older folks don't want to be "tied down".
And anyone under 13 owning a smartphone is ridiculous.
Makes sense, I really use my smart phone a lot since being in college. However, my father is retired, 61, its nearly impossible to talk him into having a cell phone, much less a smartphone. The older folks don't want to be "tied down".
And anyone under 13 owning a smartphone is ridiculous.
I'm surprised that they didn't include the 3 to 11 year old group.
(by the way... I'm around the same age as your Father... and I text, surf, send photos etc. on my BB (gave the 4s to my Wife... the BB is a company phone). Tell your old man to get with the times... )
I thought HTC was number one, Samsung was number two, and apple was number three?
This survey seems to give OS info, and not manufacturer info. How do we know the manufacturer breakdown among Andorid phone makers?
All that I can see from the graph is OS info.
EDIT: Here's what PC World had to say about this data:
However the Apple iPhone continues its years-long streak as the leading smartphone brand in America, with 28 percent of the market. Nielsen didn't provide a further breakdown among manufacturers, but on Monday, research firm Canalys said HTC had taken the top spot in the U.S. based on shipment estimates alone. HTC shipped around 5.7 million smartphones, followed by Samsung at 4.9 million units. Apple shipped 4.6 million in the third quarter.
I thought HTC was number one, Samsung was number two, and apple was number three?
This survey seems to give OS info, and not manufacturer info. How do we know the manufacturer breakdown among Andorid phone makers?
All that I can see from the graph is OS info.
You missed the way AI slanted by stating 'the top US manufacture'.
HTC and Samsung are asian...
Makes sense, I really use my smart phone a lot since being in college. However, my father is retired, 61, its nearly impossible to talk him into having a cell phone, much less a smartphone. The older folks don't want to be "tied down".
And anyone under 13 owning a smartphone is ridiculous.
My experience is different.
My parents can't nothing about computers. My father have gone 3 years in PC school and can less about computers then before.
I gave them iPhones, and they could use them directly.
They don't use all the features. Mostly because most of the websites and apps aren't in their native language, but still. They can communicate in a totally different way including having all their music with them. Something that they never had before in their life.
I am seriously thinking about throwing away my fathers mac with bootcamp and give him an iPad instead. He simply doesn't understand that knowing whats inside a computer is meaningless. Its the programs/apps and what the device can bring you. Don't spend your time learning how to change PCI cards or chase viruses on you PC. Start Safari and browse the endless world of information. Why Safari starts is irrelevant.