comScore figures for December 2010 show a year on year increase of 60% for smartphone usage in the US market, and Android continues its steady growth with a 7.3% rise in the last quarter of 2010
According to comScore figures 63.2 million people in the US owned smartphones during the three months ending in December 2010, up 60 percent versus year ago.
RIM led the ranking with 31.6% market share of smartphones, while Google Android maintained the number two position with 28.7%, up 7.3 percentage points versus September.
Apple accounted for 25.0% of smartphone subscribers (up 0.7 percentage points), followed by Microsoft with 8.4% and Palm with 3.7%.
| Top Smartphone Platforms 3 Month Avg. Ending Dec. 2010 vs. 3 Month Avg. Ending Sep. 2010 Total U.S. Smartphone Subscribers Ages 13+ Source: comScore MobiLens |
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| Share (%) of Smartphone Subscribers | |||
| Sep-10 | Dec-10 | Point Change | |
| Total Smartphone Subscribers | 100.0% | 100.0% | N/A |
| RIM Blackberry | 37.3% | 31.6% | -5.7 |
| Google Android | 21.4% | 28.7% | 7.3 |
| Apple | 24.3% | 25.0% | 0.7 |
| Microsoft | 9.9% | 8.4% | -1.5 |
| Palm | 4.2% | 3.7% | -0.5 |
Mobile Content Usage
In December, 68.0% of U.S. mobile subscribers used text messaging on their mobile device, up 1.0 percentage points versus the prior three month period, while browsers were used by 36.4% of subscribers (up 1.3 percentage points). Subscribers who used downloaded applications comprised 34.4% of the mobile audience, representing an increase of 1.3 percentage points. Accessing of social networking sites or blogs increased 1.5 percentage points, representing 24.7% of mobile subscribers. Playing games attracted 23.2% of the mobile audience, while listening to music attracted 15.7%.
| Mobile Content Usage 3 Month Avg. Ending Dec. 2010 vs. 3 Month Avg. Ending Sep. 2010 Total U.S. Mobile Subscribers Ages 13+ Source: comScore MobiLens |
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| Share (%) of Mobile Subscribers | |||
| Sep-10 | Dec-10 | Point Change | |
| Total Mobile Subscribers | 100.0% | 100.0% | N/A |
| Sent text message to another phone | 67.0% | 68.0% | 1.0 |
| Used browser | 35.1% | 36.4% | 1.3 |
| Used downloaded apps | 33.1% | 34.4% | 1.3 |
| Accessed social networking site or blog | 23.2% | 24.7% | 1.5 |
| Played Games | 23.1% | 23.2% | 0.1 |
| Listened to music on mobile phone | 15.2% | 15.7% | 0.5 |
Market Share
Manufacturer Samsung ranked as the top OEM with 24.8 percent of the 234 million US mobile subscribers, up 1.3 percentage points from the three month period ending in September. LG ranked second with 20.9 percent share, followed by Motorola (16.7 percent), RIM (8.5 percent) and Nokia (7.0 percent).
| Top Mobile OEMs 3 Month Avg. Ending Dec. 2010 vs. 3 Month Avg. Ending Sep. 2010 Total U.S. Mobile Subscribers Ages 13+ Source: comScore MobiLens |
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| Share (%) of Mobile Subscribers | |||
| Sep-10 | Dec-10 | Point Change | |
| Total Mobile Subscribers | 100.0% | 100.0% | N/A |
| Samsung | 23.5% | 24.8% | 1.3 |
| LG | 21.1% | 20.9% | -0.2 |
| Motorola | 18.4% | 16.7% | -1.7 |
| RIM | 9.3% | 8.5% | -0.8 |
| Nokia | 7.4% | 7.0% | -0.4 |