Microsoft’s Windows platform has reached a 9.2 percent share in the smartphone operating system (OS) market in key European markets, driven by Nokia’s low and mid-range models, market research firm Kantar said on Monday.<\/p>\n
During the three months to August, the Windows Phone platform reached a market share of over 10 percent for the first time in France and Britain, with 10.8 percent and 12 percent respectively, the researcher said.<\/p>\n
Nokia, which earlier this month agreed to sell its mobile phone handset business to Microsoft, is the main user of the Windows platform and the driver behind the increase.<\/p>\n
“Windows Phone’s latest wave of growth is being driven by Nokia’s expansion into the low and mid-range market with the Lumia 520 and 620 handsets,” said Kantar analyst Dominic Sunnebo.<\/p>\n
“These models are hitting the sweet spot with 16 to 24 year-olds and 35 to 49 year-olds, two key groups that look for a balance of price and functionality in their smartphone.”<\/p>\n
Google’s Android, which runs on Samsung and Sony smartphones among others, remained the leading platform in key European markets, which include Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain.<\/p>\n
Android’s market share increased to 70.1 percent from 68.8 percent in the same period last year. Apple’s iOS was the second-biggest platform with a 16.1-percent market share, 2 percentage points more than last year.<\/p>\n
BlackBerry, which earlier this month agreed to go private, saw its market share more than halved to 2.4 percent from 5.8 percent.<\/p>\n
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