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Android to streak past iPhone OS, RIM's Blackberry, and almost everything else |
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According to Gartner, the worldwide mobile operating system (OS) market will be dominated by Symbian and Android, with both OSs making up 59.8 percent of mobile OS sales by 2014. Gartner opines that Symbian will retain the top spot of its worldwide OS ranking due to Nokia's volume and the push into more mass market price points. However, the research firm says that by the end of the forecast period, the top spot will be hotly contested with Android, which will be at a very similar share level.  Communication service providers' (CSPs') marketing and vendor support for Android-based smart phones will drive the platform to become the second-largest platform, following Symbian, by year-end 2010. Gartner says this is almost two years earlier than what it predicted a year ago."The worldwide mobile OS market is dominated by four players: Symbian, Android, Research In Motion and iOS," said Roberta Cozza, principal research analyst at Gartner. "Launches of updated operating systems — such as Apple iOS 4, BlackBerry OS 6, Symbian 3 and Symbian 4, and Windows Phone 7 — will help maintain strong growth in smartphones in 2H10 and 2011 and spur innovation. However, we believe that market share in the OS space will consolidate around a few key OS providers that have the most support from CSPs and developers and strong brand awareness with consumer and enterprise customers." Gartner anticipates manufacturers like Samsung to launch many new budget Android devices in the second half of 2010, which will drive Android into mass market segments. Other manufacturers like Sony Ericsson, LG and Motorola, will follow a similar strategy in Gartner's opinion. The trend would aid Android in becoming the top OS in North America by the end of 2010. Gartner's Cozza said, "CSPs will likely reduce the number of platforms they offer, to reduce their support costs and clarify their propositions to market." Gartner predicts that by 2014, open-source platforms will continue to dominate in excess of 60 percent of the market for smart phones. Single-source platforms, such as Apple's iOS and Research In Motion's OS, will increase in unit terms, even as their growth rate will be below market average and not enough to sustain share increase. Windows Phone will be relegated to sixth place behind MeeGo in Gartner's worldwide OS ranking by 2014. |
LISTS AND RESEARCH
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Global Software Top 100 - Edition 2011
- The Global Software Top 100 is a list of the world's largest software companies, ranked by annual software revenues. The list is based upon revenue information of 10,000+ IT companies worldwide.
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Software industry trends (2011)
- This research article (accompanying the Global Software Top 100) describes changes in the software industry playing field. It analyses trends and key players and forecasts future developments.
- Top hardware companies
- A list of the world's largest hardware companies.
- What happens in the hardware industry?
- Trends and analysis of the hardware industry and its key players.
- Top IT services companies
- A list of the world's largest IT services companies, ranked by annual services revenues. This link will take you to www.servicestop100.org.
- IT services companies: healthy growth
- What is happening in the IT services industry? Read this research publication to find out about trends and key players in the IT services industry.
- Top gaming companies (2010)
- Entertainment is good business, and gaming software companies are growing faster than the rest of the software industry. This research article discusses trends and key players in the gaming business.
- Top ERP companies
- A research publication about the world's leading players in enterprise software.
- Top security software companies
- A research publication discussing the world's leading publishers of security software: antivirus-, spamfiltering-, intrusion detection- and firewall software.
- The fastest growing software companies
- This research publication reveals the fastest growing software companies in the world.
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CRM companies: a short list
- A short list of the leading software companies selling Customer Relationship Management software; aimed at IT managers looking to purchase CRM software.
- Top software companies in the US (2010)
- A list of the largest software companies in the United States, ranked by annual software revenues. 2010 Edition, posted 15 December 2010.
- U.S. software industry trends (2010)
- A research publication discussing the trends and the key players in the software industry in the United States. Posted 15 December 2010.
- Top companies in the world (not just software)
- A general list of the largest companies in the world, ranked by revenues. Not just software companies; in fact, there are no software companies in it...
- Top IT companies
- A list of the largest IT companies in the world, ranked by annual revenues. Includes hardware, software and services.
