Apple's iOS
mobile operating system remained the top-selling smartphone platform in the
U.S. in the final quarter of 2012, continuing its reign over Google's Android,
according to new data from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.
During the
12-week period ending on Dec. 23, iOS nabbed 51.2 percent of U.S. market sales,
while second-place Android took around 44.8 percent. Microsoft's Windows Phone
came in third with 2.6 percent.
"Apple's
continual improvement is thanks to both the iPhone 5 and older models
attracting various customer groups, from repeat Apple buyers, first time
smartphone buyers, and those coming from other smartphone brands," Kantar
Worldpanel ComTech analyst Mary-Ann Parlato said in a statement.
Overall, 36
percent of iOS sales during the quarter came from consumers who switched to the
iPhone from another smartphone brand, largely Android. The percentage of those
saying goodbye to Android for Apple over the last year rose to 19 percent from
just 9 percent in 2011.
Another 35
percent of iOS sales during the quarter came from those who upgraded from an
older iPhone model, while 30 percent came from individuals who were purchasing
to their first smartphone, according to Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.
The data comes
from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech USA's consumer panel, which conducts more than
250,000 interviews per year in the United States. The report focused on sales
rather than market share.
Meanwhile,
AT&T maintained its lead as the top smartphone carrier in the U.S.,
according to Kantar Worldpanel ComTech. AT&T nabbed 33 percent of
smartphone sales during the quarter, narrowly edging out Verizon, which
captured 32 percent. Third-place Sprint declined during the period with 14.8
percent of smartphone sales.
AT&T
continued to leverage its large Apple base, with 55 percent of its iOS sales
stemming from users upgrading to a newer iPhone model, while the majority of
Verizon's iOS sales came from its massive feature phone base. [PCMag]
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