The Mobile Operating Systems Analysis 2012- 2017: Who Wins: Android Vs

The Mobile Operating Systems Analysis 2012- 2017: Who wins: Android vs. iOS vs. Windows?

4.4.5 Middle East and Africa Mobile OS Sales Forecast 2012-2017

Dominated by the Symbian platform in 2012, visiongain believes that Android will pick up where the incumbent leaves off. Smart device sales in the MEA region will inevitably be driven by low- cost Android handsets from OEMs such as Huawei, ZTE, HTC, and Motorola.

Windows and iOS will have a more pronounced impact on the Middle Eastern market than the African one, with higher sales volumes in countries such as Israel, the UAE, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.

Visiongain forecasts this region to have relatively low smart device penetration in 2017, reaching sales of just over 107 million units that year. See Figure 4.31 and Table 4.25.

Figure 4.31 Middle East & Africa Mobile OS Sales Forecast 2012-2017 (million units)

30 Millions

0 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Android iOS Windows BlackBerry Symbian Others

Source: Visiongain 2012

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The Mobile Operating Systems Analysis 2012- 2017: Who wins: Android vs. iOS vs. Windows?

Figure 4.32 Middle East & Africa Mobile OS Sales Forecast Market Share 2012 (% Share)

2.5%

27.2%

49.6% 10.5%

7.0%

3.1%

Android iOS Windows BlackBerry Symbian Others

Source: Visiongain 2012

Figure 4.33 Middle East & Africa Mobile OS Sales Forecast Market Share 2014 (% Share)

2.4%

14.3% 1.2%

47.4% 16.4%

18.3%

Android iOS Windows BlackBerry Symbian Others

Source: Visiongain 2012

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The Mobile Operating Systems Analysis 2012- 2017: Who wins: Android vs. iOS vs. Windows? 5. Leading Mobile Operating Systems

5.1 Android

The rapid expansion of Android based mobile devices is mainly due to the fact that it is an open source platform. This allows for any handset vendors to adopt the Android OS and integrate it with their handset. Smartphones running Android OS have seen spectacular growth. This has been the main dynamic that has propelled Android based smartphone market share presence from 3.5% in 2009 to 50.9% market share at 4Q11.

5.1.1 Background to the Google Android Mobile OS Initiative

Google is the main driving force behind the Android mobile OS standard. Android Inc - a small Californian software start up founded by Andy Rubin and Rich Miner - was purchased by Google in July 2005.

Andy Rubin is now the senior vice president at Google Mobile. Android had previously developed a mobile operating platform based on the Linux open source kernel which was spotted by Google as an attractive alternative to proprietary mobile OS standards.

5.1.2 Open Source Platform

The open source platform has enabled vendors and operators to customise the Android UI. This means that hardware manufacturers are able to customize the OS to best suit each individual handset instead of forcing the non-native software onto hardware it was not designed for. This strategy will drive Android’s application marketplace since it will be available to a broader spectrum of phones than those running any other OS. An open-source platform also allows developers to build on top of one another’s achievements - collectively advancing smartphone technology - instead of proprietarily.

This type of development community spurs healthy competition among hardware manufacturers looking for a cost-effective way to compete with the iPhone and increase their market share. Android brings a lot to the smartphone world and is capable of accelerating the industry faster than other platforms, especially with Google’s ability to push the marketing and technological envelope.

Google published the entire source code (including network and telephony stacks) under an Apache License. Google also keeps the reviewed issues list publicly open for anyone to see and

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The Mobile Operating Systems Analysis 2012- 2017: Who wins: Android vs. iOS vs. Windows? 7. Expert Opinion

7.1 Ebbex – Mobile Applications Developer

Ebbex is one of the leading applications developers for the iPhone and iPad devices, specializing in the iOS operating system. Ebbex provides its customers with: iPhone Applications Design, iPad App Deployment, Mobile App Development and more.

Ebbex builds quality iPhone and iPad apps by concentrating on the user Interface and design phases before development, thus ensuring a captivating experience for the users while also maximizing investment. Ebbex is keen on remaining a small firm by choice which enables them to deliver superb customer service.

The following interview was conducted in June 2012. Visiongain would like to thank Mr. Nicolas Acuna COO and Mr. Mikka Olsson CEO at Ebbex, for their participation in this interview.

7.1.1 Key Trends and Recent Developments in the Mobile Operating Systems Market

Visiongain: What would you say are the key trends and recent developments in the mobile operating systems market and why?

Ebbex: • The demise of RIM teaches us that innovation is a must and that no one is ever safe

• The fight between open source and the tight ecosystem as the leading Mobile OS: Apple argues for a high quality closed ecosystem while Google/Android embraces an open source approach.

• Native apps versus cross platform development:

Developers have to chose how to spend resources, whether gaining expertise in native app building (iOS, Android, etc.) or gaining expertise in cross platform technologies like phone gap and HTML5.