OStatic

Android Was 2011's Open Source Story of the Year

As we bid goodbye to 2011, there are lots of stories appearing on what a game-changing year this was for Linux, but my choice for open source story of the year is Android. As we've noted before, Android is actually a very young operating system. Originally released at the very end of 2007 and gaining some mention as 2008 began, Android qualified as little more than an experiment from Google in 2008, although there was an early hardware commitment from HTC. As 2009 started to unfold, as late as March of that year, Android still had very little momentum. We wrote this story then, which pondered why Android was stalled after so much initial hype. Now, new smartphone data is out from comScore, and it shows Android creeping toward 50 percent market share in the U.S.

Take a gander at comScore's latest data on top smartphone platforms in the U.S.:

 

As you can see, Google commanded close to half the U.S. smartphone market as of November, and there is little doubt that it will command more than half in 2012. If you cycle the clock back to 2008, when doubts about Android's future ran rampant, its position today would seem hard to believe.

Add to that the fact that Google's Motorola Mobility acquisition will make it a big player on the hardware side of the smartphone market, and it seems likely that Android's market share will grow even more. By comparison, Google's foray into computer-based operating systems--Chrome OS--has been a small-scale experiment. Android is the company's OS success.

If you look at the market share chart above, it's also remarkable to note how far down the mountain the Symbian platform has stumbled. And, as we've noted before, that stumble was a direct result of Nokia and The Symbian Foundation failing to deliver an open source platform on time. 

Without a doubt, open source has permanently shaken up the smartphone market, from the enormous success that Android is to the dwindling prospects for the Symbian platform. As 2012 launches, Android's momentum will continue, and will likely speed up on tablets and non-phone devices.

Chart credit: comScore MobiLens.

• Android
• google
• linux
• operating systems
• smartphones
• Chrome OS

by Subal Gupta on Dec. 30, 2011

No doubt. Even though it is still an okay knockoff of the iPhone, it is definitely getting traction. I see it going the same way the PC went vs the original mac. A bunch of clones in the marketplace...

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by Flak on Jan. 01, 2012

Did some crunching of the percentages. The ComScore reports actually provides a strong indication that Microsoft's WP is in a steady decline in the US. It seems like they cannot get owners to swap their Winmo with WP.

They are actually losing not only market share but users too.

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by an anonymous user on Jan. 03, 2012

Thanks to Microsoft for allowing Android to stay in business! Without the low-cost permission to use MS intellectual property Android would not be so successful. Also thanks to the cowardly Android licensees who lack the courage to challenge MS to disclose what it is they're paying for.

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by an anonymous user on Jan. 03, 2012

Don't thank or blame any one, its money (cheap cost) and vision game, once Microsoft saw how window (GUI) can change computer world, once IBM saw how PCs can change the world likewise now its Google turn, who saw how they will change the computer world.

They were mocked when they launched their Android OS every where on net it was said to doom. But with the introduction of low cost tablets and other handhelds things have change, esp in India, the cheapest tablet just for $35 launched in end of 2011 powered by Android. In 2012 many cheap tablets with Android OS are expected to hit market from China and India. Also 4G network will make cloud a good candidate and alternative.

Tough road ahead for Microsoft if doesn't come with something good game plan

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by an anonymous user on Feb. 17, 2012

Google is not as fair as Facebook, Yahoo or Microsoft. Goole has a bad reputation as the biggest internet theif.

If you are addicted to Android, better you shloud be concerned with privacy of your personal and financial data.

The Empire of Goole grew completely on OpenSource projects, and made finally my beloved TuX bleeding with tons of Google

(privacy invading) applications. More you support Google, more it gonna make you bleed! What you guys expect from Google - Greedy Empire?

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