Research from
Strategy Analytics predicts the Google Android operating system will account
for 4 percent of all smartphones sold in the United States during the
fourth quarter of 2008.
Strategy
Analytics, forecasts s10.5 million smartphones to be sold in
the United States during Q4 2008. They estimate smartphones with Google's
Android operating system, led by HTC of Taiwan, will reach 0.4 million
units in the quarter, for a 4 percent marketshare.
Android is a
relatively late entrant and it will join an increasingly crowded market
alongside Blackberry, Microsoft, Apple, Palm, Symbian and LiMo.
Chris
Ambrosio, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics, added, "Google has
the brand power in the USA to make a big impact at launch. The main
issue will be operator subsidies. As seen with the iPhone and smart
devices in general, retail prices need to be well below $200 to be
competitive. Longer-term success will, of course, rest on Android
vendor ability to create designs with wow factor and an intuitive
user-interface. Google will do its part to drive growth, and we expect
Android will eventually offer a compelling range of mobile applications
emphasizing Google's online assets, such as advertising, mapping and
search."