IDC: Android, iOS Devices Dominate, But Windows Phone Gains Ground

Bring your own device (BYOD) has focused the attention of managed services providers (MSPs) on consumer trends around mobile devices, but how much does the mobile operating system (OS) market really change? Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iOS and Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Android devices are continuing to dominate the OS market, according to a recent report by market research firm International Data Corporation (IDC). But a look into the deeper numbers provides even more insight. Here are the details. 

IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker for the first quarter of 2013 revealed that Android and iOS combined for 92.3 percent of all smartphone shipments during the first quarter of 2013, with Android grabbing 75 percent of the market on its own.

While MSPs may look at the Android and iOS dominated market as a stable environment with obvious choices about which platforms need to be supported. But a closer look at the numbers may leave the door open for the rise of alternative platforms.

"Android and iOS accounted for more than the lion's share of smartphones in the first quarter, but a closer examination of the other platforms reveals turnaround and demand for alternatives," said IDC Mobile Phone Team Research Manager Ramon Llamas in a prepared statement.

Microsoft Windows Phone (NASDAQ: MSFT) grabbed the number three spot from Blackberry (NASDAQ: BBRY) OS. To be exact, Windows Phone posted the largest year-over-year gain (133.3 percent) among the leading operating systems. Of course, when you start from a low number it's much easier to post fast growth. But there are other factors at play, too.

IDC analysts believe this growth was due to Microsoft's relationship with Nokia (NYSE: NOK), accounting for 79.0 percent of all Windows Phone shipments during the quarter.

Although Nokia is the largest distributor of Windows Phone at the moment, the market may see an increase from other vendors in the future. And perhaps the growing interest in Microsoft's Surface tablet platform will help drive Windows Phone interest as well. However, IDC says that other phone manufacturers other than Nokia tend to offer their flagship Android phones first, and then Windows Phone only as an alternative to their Android phone device.  

Meanwhile, BlackBerry's failure, according to IDC analysts, was due to the company still relying on its BB7 smartphones for the majority of its shipment volume during the quarter.