Google's Android has overtaken Microsoft Windows for the first time as the
world's most popular operating system in terms of total internet usage
across desktop, laptop, tablet and mobile combined.
The figures, compiled by Irish web analytics company StatCounter, show that
Android topped the worldwide OS internet usage market share in March with
37.93%, putting it marginally ahead of Windows (37.91%) for the first time.
StatCounter CEO Aodhan Cullen said the data represent "a milestone in
technology history and the end of an era.
"It marks the end of Microsoft's leadership worldwide of the OS market which
it has held since the 1980s.
"It also represents a major breakthrough for Android which held just 2.4% of
global internet usage share only five years ago."
In Ireland, Windows remains the leading OS, but it has fallen to 36.3% in
March from 44% in the same month last year while its rivals, Android and iOS
have made headway.
Android has risen to 28% from 22.5%. Apple's iOS is in third on 26%, up from
22% in March last year.
Mr Cullen said that main drivers of the breakthrough were growth of
smartphones to access the internet, a decline in sales of traditional PCs
and the impact of Asia on the global market.
However, Windows still dominates the worldwide operating system desktop
market (PC and laptop), with an 84% internet usage share in March.
The StatCounter CEO said it will "be difficult for Microsoft to make inroads
in mobile but the next paradigm shift might give it the opportunity to
regain dominance.
"That could be in Augmented Reality, AI, Voice or Continuum (a product that
aims to replace a desktop and smartphone with a single Microsoft powered
phone)."
In North America Windows (all versions) maintained its lead across all
platforms with 39.5% share in March followed by iOS (25.7%) and Android
(21.2%), while in Europe Windows is also dominant, with a 51.7% share - more
than twice the level of Android (23.6%).
However, in Asia, Android is on 52.2%, compared with 29.2% for Windows.
