• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Former CIA official found with $40 million in gold bars for 'work-related expenses' reaches tentative plea deal 

2

Trump’s tariffs slashed jobs and wage growth. Now companies are funneling $100 billion in refunds to supplement workers’ retirement

3

Billionaire Mike Bloomberg was fired after dedicating 15 years of his career to Salomon Brothers—the next morning, he founded his media empire

1

Former CIA official found with $40 million in gold bars for 'work-related expenses' reaches tentative plea deal 

2

Trump’s tariffs slashed jobs and wage growth. Now companies are funneling $100 billion in refunds to supplement workers’ retirement

3

Billionaire Mike Bloomberg was fired after dedicating 15 years of his career to Salomon Brothers—the next morning, he founded his media empire
Apple

IDC: Apple skimmed the smartphone cream in Q2

By
Philip Elmer-DeWitt
Philip Elmer-DeWitt
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Philip Elmer-DeWitt
Philip Elmer-DeWitt
Down Arrow Button Icon
August 15, 2014, 2:23 AM ET
Google source logo
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

The highlights of IDC’s mobile phone report for the second quarter of 2014 don’t bode well for the also rans, Microsoft (MSFT) and Blackberry (BBRY):

  • 301.3 million smartphones shipped, up 25.3% year over year
  • 255.3 million Androids shipped, up 33.3%
  • 35.2 million iPhones shipped, up 12.7%
  • 7.4 million Windows Phones shipped, down 9.4%
  • 1.5 million Blackberries shipped, down 78%

All told, Google’s (GOOG) Android and Apple’s iOS accounted for 96.4% of the units shipped, according to IDC.

“It’s been an incredible upward slog for other OS players,” said IDC’s Melissa Chau.

What she didn’t say — but the attached chart implies — is that it hasn’t exactly been a walk in the woods for the dominant Android makers either.

According to IDC, 58.6% of all Android smartphone shipments worldwide cost less than $200 off contract. So while Android has been “reaping huge gains within emerging markets,” in the words of IDC’s Ramon Llamos, it hasn’t been yielding huge profits.

Apple meanwhile continued to skim the cream off the smartphone market in what is historically its slowest quarter of the year. From IDC’s press release:

For the past two years, third quarter volumes received a boost from shipments of [Apple] new devices towards the end of the quarter, resulting in slightly higher volumes compared to the second quarter. Whether or not this happens again this year remains to be seen, especially with the anticipated arrival of large-screen iPhones.

Below: IDC’s Q2 2014 spreadsheet.

Screen Shot 2014-08-15 at 6.56.44 AM

LINK: Worldwide Smartphone Shipments Edge Past 300 Million Units in the Second Quarter

Follow Philip Elmer-DeWitt on Twitter at @philiped. Read his Apple (AAPL) coverage at fortune.com/ped or subscribe via his RSS feed.

About the Author
By Philip Elmer-DeWitt
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in


Most Popular

Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

    Latest in


    Most Popular

    © 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
    FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.