IDC: Eight Out Of Ten Smartphones Run Android, iOS

According to the firm’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker report, there were 152.3 million smartphones shipped around the globe in the first quarter, and eight out of 10 of them either ran Android or iOS. Much of Apple and Google’s success, IDC said, can be attributed to their robust app and software offerings -- something Microsoft and Research In Motion need to bulk up if they want to compete.

"In order for operating system challengers to gain share, their creators and hardware partners need to secure developer loyalty," said Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst with IDC's Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker program, in the report. "This is true because developer intentions or enthusiasm for a particular operating system is typically a leading indicator of hardware sales success."

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Android proved to be the overall winner for the quarter with 59 percent global market share, which is a staggering 145 percent jump year-over-year compared to the 36 percent it held during the same period last year.

Apple’s iOS was next in line with 23 percent share, marking a year-over-year growth rate of 88 percent.

IDC said Android’s dominance stems primarily from its multi-vendor approach. Compared to the competition, Google’s OS boasts the "longest list of smartphone vendor partners," including HTC, Motorola and tech giant Samsung, which accounted for 45 percent of Android-based phone shipments last quarter. iOS, by comparison, only runs on the iPhone.

Android and iOS gobbling up more than 80 percent of the market left little else for their rivals. RIM’s BlackBerry OS and Nokia’s Symbian OS, which showed the largest year-over-year decline, accounted for 6.4 percent and 6.8 percent share, respectively.

Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform was at the bottom of IDC’s list, with 2.2 percent share. Today, Windows Phone runs primarily on Nokia’s Lumia line of smartphones, which has reportedly struggled to gain traction in European markets. Much of the OS’s success will continue to depend on Nokia’s Lumia sales, and whether it is adopted by further handset makers down the line.

"Until Nokia speeds the cadence of its smartphone releases or more vendors launch their own Windows Phone-powered smartphones, IDC anticipates slow growth for the operating system," the report said.