Apple is still leading in the smartphone market but Android steals top OS spot

A man looks at his Apple iPad in front an Apple logo outside an Apple store in downtown Shanghai March 16, 2012. Reuters/Aly Song

Apple saw a slight dip in its three-month period ending in June 2015, but the company remains at the top of the smartphone market chain in the United States. Despite fragmentation problems, Android continues to lead OS usage worldwide, according to new data.

Global media measurement and analytics company comScore released new digits last week, putting Apple at the lead in terms of smartphone subscribers. According to the data, Apple is at the top of the pack with 43.6 percent share. However, this does not translate to OS usage. Apple is the leading phone OEM but Android remains the most-used smartphone platform in the country. Android has 52.3 percent share of the market. This is 0.7 percent up from the previous record. Apple's iOS, on other hand, only has 43.6 percent, which is 0.5 percent lower than previous record.

It is important to note that comScore's figures still do not reflect iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus numbers. Analysts previously said that the decline in iOS usage is given considering the arrival of new devices. Apple's next results should improve once its new offerings are included. The firm also disclosed numbers for Microsoft and Blackberry market shares at 2.9 percent and 1.2 percent respectively.

Nonetheless, Apple seems to be looking forward to capturing more than just the smartphone market. In a series of interviews, Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook said that the iPad Pro will be targeting a more serious segment of the market. The company plans on introducing the new device as an alternative to the traditional laptop.

“I think if you’re looking at a PC, why would you buy a PC anymore?" the executive told The Telegraph.

“Yes, the iPad Pro is a replacement for a notebook or a desktop for many, many people. They will start using it and conclude they no longer need to use anything else, other than their phones.”

He also told The Independent in a separate interview that people can “marry” the iPad Pro with the keyboard cover and see it transform into a laptop replacement. This will put Apple in competition with companies like Microsoft who has been aiming at a similar market.

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