TechCrunch writes of the latest report from NPD, covering U.S. smartphone sales in October and November of last year. The data, which begins right about when the iPhone 4S was released, shows a dramatic increase in market share for the iPhone. The jump, from 26% in Q3 2011 to 43% in October and November, is due in-part to pent-up demand for the next iPhone following the pushback of the "iPhone 5" from the traditional June release cycle. As a result, iPhone share is unlikely to remain quite so high going forward, but the gain is nonetheless impressive.
Perhaps even more striking is that the top three phone models are all iPhones. Unsurprisingly, the iPhone 4S is the most popular, followed by the now-$99 iPhone 4. The iPhone 3GS, free on AT&T with a two-year contract in its third year of availability, comes in third, ahead of the Samsung Galaxy S 4G and Samsung Galaxy S II -- both Android phones introduced in 2011.
Samsung, like Apple, makes three of the top ten most popular models; HTC holds two spots, whilst Motorola and LG each round out the remaining models with one model each.
Top Rated Comments
Boom!
This goes to show that the market share levitates around Apples annual release cycle. Apple being the 800lb gorilla, will famine a little before the release and feast just after it... And so will Android, but in reverse.
Apple's Quality vs. the competition's Quantity.
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It's great news for everyone. It means that iPhone users are part of a robust ecosystem that is healthy and will last. It's good news for our investment - as users - in the platform.