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iPhone loses market share in Europe as Android surges

Apple's iPhone is not faring well in two large markets: Western Europe and India.

Brooke Crothers Former CNET contributor
Brooke Crothers writes about mobile computer systems, including laptops, tablets, smartphones: how they define the computing experience and the hardware that makes them tick. He has served as an editor at large at CNET News and a contributing reporter to The New York Times' Bits and Technology sections. His interest in things small began when living in Tokyo in a very small apartment for a very long time.
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Brooke Crothers
Samsung Galaxy S4. Android OS gained 14 percent in market share year to year in the first quarter as Apple lost five percent, said IDC. Android owned 90 percent of the Indian market in Q1.
Samsung Galaxy S4. Android OS gained 14 percent in market share year to year in the first quarter as Apple lost five percent, said IDC. Android owned 90 percent of the Indian market in Q1. Samsung

Apple lost market share to Android in Western Europe, according to market researcher IDC.

Market trends in Western Europe are not looking good for Apple's iPhone. "Apple's iOS continues to lose ground as market share declined to 20% from 25% in 1Q12 [first quarter 2012]," IDC said Tuesday.

Android, meanwhile, is gaining operating system market share, up 14 percent year-to-year in the first quarter. "Android continues to dominate the smartphone landscape," according to IDC.

In the quarter, Google's OS shipped 21.9 million units and market share increased to 69 percent in the first quarter of 2013 from 55 percent in last years' first quarter.

Apple lost 11 percent, while Samsung gained 31 percent in market share in Western Europe during the first quarter.
Apple lost 11 percent, while Samsung gained 31 percent in market share in Western Europe during the first quarter. IDC

Overall, the Western European economies contracted, according to IDC. "Most Western European countries experienced a slowdown in smartphone sales as economies deteriorated, with a consequent decline in disposable income for consumers."

IDC also released a report last week on smartphone market share in the India, where Apple struggles to remain relevant.

Apple got knocked out of the top five smartphone vendors in India in unit shipments, according to a report, citing first-quarter numbers from IDC.

Android dominated the Indian smartphone market with a 90 percent share, driven by sales in the low end segment, according to the report.

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