Android was the unquestioned leader of the mobile operating system (mobile OS) market in 2018, with 88 percent of all devices sold running the Android system.
Mobile OS ecosystem
Smartphone operating systems, often referred to as smartphone OS, are operating systems that operate smartphones, PDAs, tablets and other mobile devices. An operating system allows these devices to run applications and programs, therefore, bringing advanced functions to mobile devices that were previously restricted to desktop computers.
The now-discontinued OS Symbian was the first popular smartphone operating system in the world. With the launch of Ericsson‘s R380 in 2000, Symbian became the first modern mobile OS on a smartphone. By 2009, Symbian accounted for nearly half of the global smartphone operating systems market, while RIM/Blackberry, also a pioneer in this market, held around 20 percent of the share. Despite the early start, both Symbian and RIM have been almost driven out of the market as new operating systems were released. Apple introduced its first iPhone model to the consumer market in 2007, revolutionizing the market. Prior to the launch of Apple’s iPhone in 2007, smartphones were a rather niche product and had not yet attained mass appeal.
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Global market share held by the leading smartphone operating systems in sales to end users from 1st quarter 2009 to 2nd quarter 2018
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Gartner. (August 28, 2018). Global market share held by the leading smartphone operating systems in sales to end users from 1st quarter 2009 to 2nd quarter 2018 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved January 20, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/266136/global-market-share-held-by-smartphone-operating-systems/
Gartner. "Global market share held by the leading smartphone operating systems in sales to end users from 1st quarter 2009 to 2nd quarter 2018." Chart. August 28, 2018. Statista. Accessed January 20, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/266136/global-market-share-held-by-smartphone-operating-systems/
Gartner. (2018). Global market share held by the leading smartphone operating systems in sales to end users from 1st quarter 2009 to 2nd quarter 2018. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: January 20, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/266136/global-market-share-held-by-smartphone-operating-systems/
Gartner. "Global Market Share Held by The Leading Smartphone Operating Systems in Sales to End Users from 1st Quarter 2009 to 2nd Quarter 2018." Statista, Statista Inc., 28 Aug 2018, https://www.statista.com/statistics/266136/global-market-share-held-by-smartphone-operating-systems/
Gartner, Global market share held by the leading smartphone operating systems in sales to end users from 1st quarter 2009 to 2nd quarter 2018 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/266136/global-market-share-held-by-smartphone-operating-systems/ (last visited January 20, 2025)
Global market share held by the leading smartphone operating systems in sales to end users from 1st quarter 2009 to 2nd quarter 2018 [Graph], Gartner, August 28, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/266136/global-market-share-held-by-smartphone-operating-systems/
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