Make way for Android's Jelly Bean
Android will be the dominant OS in the second half of 2012, accounting for 70% of the total handset market up from 60% in the first half. Although Fridays Samsung Apple decision may reduce numbers especially if Samsung are prevented from selling their Android-based handsets in the US.
Digitimes Research estimates the increase will be fired by several major Android handset vendors including Samsung, Huawei and ZTE pumping up their shipments in the third quarter, while second-tier vendors, regional brand vendors, and white-box players are also aggressively launching new entry-level Android-based handsets particularly in the Chinese market, according to Digitimes Research senior analyst Luke Lin.
The research estimates that Apple’s iPhone shipments will surpass 125 million units in 2012, and handsets based on BlackBerry and Symbian operating systems are expected to see further shipment declines in 2012, dropping by 40% and 65%, respectively.
OS sales for 2H2012
The Windows market is set for an increase spurred on by the aggressive promotion of Lumia Windows Phones, and the new Windows 8 devices. Digitimes Research estimates that overall shipments of Windows Phone-devices in 2012 will reach 21 million units, up more than double on the previous year.