As Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) fans are patiently awaiting the arrival of the iPhone 6, the tech giant still continues to decline. IDC’S Quarterly Mobile Tracker indicates that overall shipments of smartphones rose to 51 percent during second quarter 2012 with a total of 236.4 million handsets shipped.
Android has taken the lead in smartphone sales. While customers wait for the next great Apple smartphone, they are also opting for equally premium phones like the Samsung Galaxy S4 or cheaper models.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) Fans getting tired of waiting for iPhone 6
Ramon Llamas for IDC Research Tracker explained, “The iOS decline in the second quarter aligns with the cyclicality of iPhone. Without a new product launch since the debut of the iPhone 5 nearly a year ago, Apple’s market share was vulnerable to product launches from the competition. But with a new iPhone 6 and revamped iOS coming out later this year, Apple is well-positioned to recapture market share.”
Date for iPhone 6 arrival
Although the iPhone 6 could arrive later on this year, it’s more likely to arrive next year, and we can expect Apple to launch the iPhone 5S this year instead. The only potential problem with this is that the 5S will essentially be just a minor upgrade from the iPhone 5. Fans want and expect something more, and this is why there is more anticipation for the iPhone 6 rather the the iPhone 5S.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) ‘s pause on iPhone 6 creates opportunity
This is bad news for Apple but good news for their top competitors Android and Microsoft. According to V3.co.uk, “Windows Phone, looking to make gains fast to catch up with a market it had neglected for several years, also took advantage of the stagnant state of Apple’s product launch cycle, increasing its slender lead over BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) in the process and firmly establishing itself as the number three ecosystem. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s OS, which saw new devices from Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V) and HTC, brought its market share up to 3.7 percent. Nokia device sales made up more than 80 percent of Windows Phone sales.”
It’s important to note that it’s far from the end for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), as they are still a strong competitor in the market and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon.