Google Android captures half of the Australian smartphone market as Apple iPhone sales slip

Android has captured more than half of the Australian smartphone market, while Symbian devices and Apple’s iPhone have recorded a year-on-year decline, according to a new report.

The report reveals that Android’s marketshare has grown on a year-on-year basis from 32.2% in 2011 to 52% in 2012, while the marketshare for Apple iOS has fallen from 35.6% to 35.3%.

Most of the growth for Android has come at the expense of Symbian (traditionally used by Nokia), which has seen its marketshare collapse from 23.6% to just 5.6%.

The report also reveals that competitors to Apple and Android are struggling to gain traction in the Australian smartphone market, with statistically insignificant figures reported for RIM/BlackBerry (1%), Windows Phone 7 (1.6%) and Windows Mobile (1.7%).

It is important to note, however, that while Apple’s share of the Australian smartphone market has dipped, the growth of the market in Australia means that Apple’s overall volumes have increased during the period.