Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has once again regained the market share in Europe, Japan and Australia owing to a robust performance from the flagship iPhone 5S, for the January-March. A new report (via TechCrunch) from research firm Kantar Worldpanel reveals that Apple has gained market share in above mentioned regions, but have lost market share in its home market.
“Apple regained ground in the first quarter of 2014, primarily due to the strong performance of the iPhone 5S, growing its sales share in Europe, Japan and Australia,” noted Dominic Sunnebo, strategic insight director at Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.
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In Japan, Australia, and Europe, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) commands a market share of 57.6%, 33.1%, and 19.2%, which is an increase of 8.6%, 2.0%, and 0.1%, respectively, over the same quarter, last year. In the U.S., market share for the iPhone maker has come down from 43.7% last year to 35.9%, which is a decline of 7.8%.
In its previous report over the smart phone sales over the August-October 2013 period, Sunnebo noted that U.S. customers are more attracted to “full releases” like the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5 than “incremental” updates “as the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c.” This year, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is expected to come up with a bigger screen iPhone 6, which would include new features like faster A8 processor, Touch ID fingerprint sensor, improved camera and revamped visuals.
Japan holds huge potential for Apple
In Japan, the iPhone’s have been gaining popularity especially after the launch on the country’s largest carrier, NTT DoCoMo.
“Japan’s love affair with Apple shows no sign of fading. Even though the iPhone has now been available on Japan’s largest carrier, NTT DoCoMo, for a number of months Apple still accounts for more than 40% of sales on the network,” Sunnebo noted.
Apart from the iPhone, Apple‘s iPad is getting good response in Japan. According to the report, almost one-fourth of the Japanese iPhone owners, also, have an iPad. Also, smart phone penetration in Japan is still well behind Europe and the US, indicating massive opportunity for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) going ahead.
Though Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is witnessing rising market share in many region, it continues to face stiff opposition from Google’s Android platform, which dominated many markets with over 70% market share. Also, Microsoft’s Windows Phone saw a rise in market share, and was even ahead of iOS in Italy by a margin of 4.3%, according to the Kantar report.
However, Sunnebo commented that Windows had a “tough start to the year” as the entry-level Nokia devices are getting intense competition from rivals devices like low-end Motorola, LG and Samsung Android smartphones.
