Google’s mobile operating system Android extended its share in the global smartphone market to nearly 80 percent as its main competitor Apple’s iOS lost ground, according to a report by research firm International Data Corporation.

The market share of Android-based phones jumped to an all-time high of 79.3 percent in the second quarter, up from 69.1 percent in the same period of 2012. The shipment of Android phones during this period totaled 187.4 million units.

The prevalence of Android is bolstered largely by the success of South Korean tech heavyweight Samsung Electronics, whose smartphones accounted for 35.2 percent of the market in North America in the second quarter, according to research firm Strategy Analytics.

Apple’s iOS came in a distant second with a 13.2 percent market share and 31.2 million units shipped. According to the IDC data, Apple’s shipment marked a 20 percent increase on-year but its market share dropped from 16.6 percent.

IDC researcher Ramon Llamas said Apple, however, is well positioned to recapture market share with its new iPhone and revamped iOS coming out later this year.

Microsoft Corp.’s Windows mobile operating system had a 3.7 percent share, or 8.7 million units shipped.

One-time market leader BlackBerry continued its plunge, grabbing only 2.9 percent in the global mobile phone market. Its second-quarter shipments declined 11.7 percent on-year to 6.8 million units.



By Yoon Min-sik
(minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)