Apple loses smartphone market share in third quarter

Apple has continued to lose market share in the smartphone sector during the third quarter, with Android picking up steam, according to new figures released by Gartner.

The figures show Android took more than half of all the smartphones sold to users during the last quarter, up from just 25.3% in the previous corresponding quarter.

However, Apple saw the iOS platform control just 15% of the market, down from 16.6% in the same quarter in 2010.

“Android benefited from more mass-market offerings, a weaker competitive environment and the lack of exciting new products on alternative operating systems such as Windows Phone 7 and RIM,” Gartner analyst Roberta Cozza said in a statement.

“Apple’s iOS market share suffered from delayed purchases as consumers waited for the new iPhone. Continued pressure is impacting RIM’s performance, and its smartphone share reached its lowest point so far in the U.S. market, where it dropped to 10%.”