Marcy’s Musings: The Legislative Outlook—Helping or Hurting?
It’s Only Common Sense: The Phone Is Still Mightier Than the Keyboard
The Marketing Minute: Marketing With Layers
AOSPs' Share of the Global Smartphone Market Down 14% in 2015
May 3, 2016 | ABI ResearchEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Overall smartphone share of the global handsets market is slowing as mobile phone (or feature phone) sales show some resilience through local brands in emerging markets. While ABI Research, the leader in transformative technology innovation market intelligence, finds major Chinese vendors are continuing to witness solid volume growth, the market region could be on the cusp of a change as Google Android regains momentum and fights back against AOSP (Android Open Source Project) devices. ABI Research estimates that AOSPs’ share of the global smartphone market fell to 14% by end of 2015, while Android improved to a commanding 67%.
“Huawei, Xiaomi, and ZTE, all showed notable volume growth in the fourth quarter and continue to do so,” says David McQueen, Research Director at ABI Research. “As most Android OS devices in China are not yet allowed to carry Google’s services, notably Play, many smartphones act much like AOSP devices. This situation may change in the near future, as either Google’s services become accepted in China or Google’s Android One standard grows to be a viable market contender. This is likely to spread to other Asian markets, which may mean the plight of AOSP.”
ABI Research considers AOSP devices to be modified versions of Android open source on which vendors can build their own user interfaces, app stores, and key applications. While a number of key brands, such as Xiaomi and Amazon, and other smaller Asian vendors have embraced the AOSP platform, the device category faces mounting competition as Google’s Android One continues to target both emerging markets and low-cost smartphone manufacturers.
In the months ahead, ABI Research expects some AOSP vendors to migrate toward Android OS/Android One and leverage on the wider ecosystem as their shipments grow. The AOSP platform may be further stymied by mobile operators who remain reticent to carry AOSP devices, notably in the U.S., which will reduce their acceptance and success in certain markets.
“While we anticipate that Google will continue to have a strong hold on the Android platform in some developing markets, particularly Latin America, the dynamic beyond these could change very quickly,” concludes McQueen. “If Android One does not perform as well as expected over the coming months, AOSP will remain a force within many emerging markets, despite Google’s best efforts to entice vendors away from it.”
About ABI Research
For more than 25 years, ABI Research has stood at the forefront of technology market intelligence, partnering with innovative business leaders to implement informed, transformative technology decisions. The company employs a global team of senior analysts to provide comprehensive research and consulting services through deep quantitative forecasts, qualitative analyses and teardown services. An industry pioneer, ABI Research is proactive in its approach, frequently uncovering ground-breaking business cycles ahead of the curve and publishing research 18 to 36 months in advance of other organizations. In all, the company covers more than 60 services, spanning 11 technology sectors.
Share on:
Testimonial
"Advertising in PCB007 Magazine has been a great way to showcase our bare board testers to the right audience. The I-Connect007 team makes the process smooth and professional. We’re proud to be featured in such a trusted publication."
Klaus Koziol - atgSuggested Items
Circus SE Set for High-Volume Market Entry in the Defense Sector
10/17/2025 | BUSINESS WIRECircus SE a global technology leader in AI robotics for autonomous nutrition systems and troop supply, is expanding its global production network as part of its high-volume market entry into the defense sector.
China Expands Rare Earth Export Restrictions, Tightening Grip on Global Supply Chains
10/16/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamChina sharply expanded its rare earth export restrictions on Oct. 9, adding additional elements and refining technologies to its control list while imposing stricter rules on foreign users in the defense and semiconductor industries.
SAMI Advanced Electronics Company Launches “Remal” Computer Manufacturing Project in Partnership with HP and Foxconn
10/15/2025 | SAMI-AECSAMI Advanced Electronics Company (SAMI-AEC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), proudly announced the launch of the “Remal” project for computer manufacturing, in strategic partnership with HP and Foxconn.
The Right Approach: Electro-Tek—A Williams Family Legacy, Part 1
10/15/2025 | Steve Williams -- Column: The Right ApproachThere is no bronze bust in the lobby or portrait in the conference room of Electro-Tek's founder—my Dad, Charles “Chuck” Williams—so with the facility closing last year after 56 years, I feel it is time to tell the story. Chuck Williams founded Electro-Tek in 1968 in our basement, eventually moving into the second floor of an old 1913 building in downtown Milwaukee that is still standing (the first of three eventual facilities).
LPKF Joins productronica’s 50th Anniversary, Showcasing Laser Technology for Electronics Manufacturing
10/10/2025 | LPKF Laser & ElectronicsLPKF Laser & Electronics invites visitors to productronica 2025 in Munich from November 18 to 21. At booth 305 in hall B2, the company will present its portfolio of modern laser technologies for the electronics industry live – from prototyping systems and high-performance depaneling to laser plastic welding for electronic housings and thin glass processing for advanced packaging.