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Android Clobbers iOS in India

Google's mobile OS captured a record 97 percent of Q2 sales in the Asian country.

 & Stephanie Mlot Contributor

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Apple is taking a beating in India, the world's third-largest smartphone market.

Total handset shipments in the country grew 19 percent annually to 31 million units during the second quarter of 2016, according to Strategy Analytics.

Unfortunately for Cupertino, a record 97 percent of those sales were Android devices.

Google's mobile operating system maintained its first-place position during the period, dominating the market. The popular OS shipped 29.8 million units in India in the second quarter, growing 28 percent annually from the the year before.

"Android … looks unbeatable right now, due to its deep portfolio of hardware partners, extensive distribution channels, and a wide range of low-cost apps like Gmail," Neil Mawston, Strategy Analytics' executive director, said in a statement.

Behind China and the US, India's smartphone market is growing rapidly, due primarily to low smartphone penetration rates; an expanding middle class with more disposable income; and competition among major vendors, retailers, and operators, according to senior analyst Rajeev Nair.

Apple, meanwhile, took a 35 percent dive, shipping only 0.8 million smartphones in India in Q2.

The tech titan, which recently celebrated its billionth iPhone sale, also lags behind Android in the rest of the world: Strategy Analytics tipped a 15 percent dip in global shipments during the second quarter.

Things could change, though, by the end of the year. While Samsung just launched its flagship Galaxy Note 7, Apple is also likely to introduce a new iPhone lineup this fall.

"Apple ... will need to reduce iPhone pricing to cheaper levels, attract more operator subsidies and enlarge its retail presence through Apple stores or online channels if it wants to regrow significantly in the future," Strategy Analytics Director Woody Oh said of the company's potential in India.

About Our Expert

Stephanie Mlot

Stephanie Mlot

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My Experience

  • B.A. in Journalism & Public Relations with minor in Communications Media from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)
  • Reporter at The Frederick News-Post (2008-2012)
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