So that was it… 2012… the year that saw Apple’s share of mobile operating systems drop to around 15% of the market despite the launch of the iPhone 5.
It’s also the year that saw the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S3, labelled by many as the iPhone killer, which took Android smartphones to a new level (some would say a level beyond even the iPhone 5). The Android share of the mobile market grew to 75% worldwide which all of a sudden makes Apple seem quite small.
Last year there was the first time smartphones outsold PCs. In 2012 PC sales have declined again and smartphones have continued to do well – around twice as many smartphones will be sold as PCs. And tablet sales are growing quicker than smartphones!*
2012 was the year that saw tablet sales grow to account for nearly one in four personal computer sales. This is a market that Apple does still dominate. It shows a real shift in momentum in how we access the internet.
Internet browsing on smartphones is predicted to overtake internet browsing on computers by the end of next year, but browsing on tablets is predicted to overtake browsing on smartphones the year after… if you haven’t noticed, times are changing. Actually, they’ve changed.
I’ve said it before here, but in case you’ve missed it I think it’s worth repeating.
Online no longer means a PC or a laptop. Your customers are now mobile either through their smartphone or through a tablet. Your standard desktop internet site is no longer enough to satisfy customers looking for your products and services online.
Customers have an increasingly low tolerance of non-mobile optimised content on their smartphone or tablet. Your desktop website will be rejected, particularly now that so many businesses meet the customer’s requirement of providing content optimised for the device on which they are browsing.
The question we get asked more than any other is this: with so many options out there, how do we know which technology to implement in our business?
If you’re asking the same question yourself, I’m afraid you’re asking the question back-to-front. You see, it’s not about the technology you use in your business – it’s about how easy you make it for your customers to use their technology to engage with you.
All the best for 2013.
Ian Laverty is to take up the role of managing director of Intelligent Mobile in the New Year
https://www.intelligentmobile.com/
*Source: Gartner
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