Smartphones: Android domination is confirmed against Apple

Android, the mobile operating system from Google, confirms its domination of the global market for smartphones, where it is a duopoly with Apple, according to a study published Monday by the firm Strategy Analytics.

A record 92.1% of the 217 million smartphones sold in the fourth quarter operating with Android or Apple operating system, iOS, has calculated the firm, for whom "the global market for smartphones is in fact become a duopoly. "

Android shows the strongest growth: the software used by a number of phone manufacturers including market leader Samsung, has seen the number of devices that use almost doubled in a year to go from 80.6 to 152 , 1 million units sold, bringing its market share to 70.1%.

The iPhone group saw the apple at the same time its sales go from 37 to 47.8 million units and accounted for 22% of the market in the fourth quarter.

The full year 2012, the market share of Android was 68.4% and 19.4% of Apple.

"Android is clearly the undisputed leader in the smartphone industry volume at this time" and "crushed in its path" several platforms such as Symbian (Nokia), said Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics.

"The challenge for Android in 2013 will defend his leadership, not only against Apple, but also against emerging wave of hungry competitors including Microsoft, Blackberry, Firefox and Tizen," he added.

Microsoft has up its Windows operating system with the hope to revive in the mobile.

Research in Motion, the Canadian manufacturer of Blackberry, plays survival with a new range of phones and a new operating system that will be launched this week.

The Mozilla Foundation announced last week two smartphones designed to allow developers to test its new mobile operating system Firefox OS.

Et Tizen is a project based on Linux and open source software developed by several groups and electronic telecom operators.