Windows loses ground as Android OS battles for top spot
Windows might be the leading operating system around the world thanks to its presence on desktop PCs and laptops but it is increasingly being overshadowed by Google’s mobile OS. New data from webs analytics firm StatCounter shows Android’s global market share hit 37.4% last month, just behind Windows on 38.6%.
Launched in September 2008, Android now has the largest installed base of all operating systems. However, just five years ago, in early 2012, Windows had a 82% global internet usage share compared to just 2.2% for Android.
Aodhan Cullen, chief executive of StatCounter, said the growth in popularity of smartphones, as well as a corresponding slowdown in sales of PCs and the rising impact of Asia on internet usage figures were behind the rise of Android. In mainland Europe, Windows has more than twice the market share as Android but that situation is almost reversed in Asia.
Microsoft’s Windows still dominates the worldwide operating system desktop market (PC and laptop) with an 84.1% internet usage share in February, the figures show.
In North America, Windows maintained its lead across all platforms last month with a 40.7% share, followed by Apple’s iOS on 24.9% and Android on 20.3%. In Ireland, Windows is on 40% followed by Android on 25.6% and iOS on 24%.
