Windows vs. Mac – The Struggle for China

In late 2011 it became official; China overtook the United States as the largest smartphone market in the world. While the United States is still the largest smartphone market by revenue, China is quickly gaining and now possesses the largest market in regards to sheer smartphone volume. Market research firm Strategy Analytics found that a record 23.9 million smartphones were shipped in China during the third quarter of 2011, representing sequential growth of 58%. In the United States, smartphone shipments fell to 23.3 million units, a 7% dip compared to the second quarter. With a rapidly growing market, and a downward trend in the U.S., China is proving to be the future battleground for mobile operating systems such as Windows Phone and iPhone.

In early 2012 Apple made the first move. On January 13^th, Apple released its iPhone 4S to China and 21 other markets throughout the world. Soon after, in March of 2012, Windows responded. In late March the first Windows Phone-powered handsets were released in China in the form of the HTC Eternity, known as the HTC Titan in the United States.

How are both companies fairing now?

While analysts repeatedly harp on how important China is for Apple’s iPhone, the Cupertino, California-based consumer electronics giant’s iPhone 4S is still unavailable to the massive subscriber base of China Mobile – the world’s largest telecom carrier – despite rumors of ongoing negotiations. This comes as a major setback to Apple, especially as a major underdog, Microsoft’s Windows Phone, has taken has emerged as the early leader in Chinese markets.

According to Michel van der Bel, chief operating officer at Microsoft for the Greater China region, Microsoft’s Windows Phone market share now sits at 7% in China, while the latest reports place Apple’s share of the smartphone market in China at 6%. While 1% may not seem significant at first glance, China is the first country to have topped a billion mobile subscribers, emphasizing the importance of each and every percentage point.
In 2007, China’s mobile market was only at 500 million subscribers; now, toping a billion, if the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released accurate figures, then the market has doubled in the last five years, again emphasizing the importance of China as the emerging smartphone market.

“We have only just begun,” van der Bel said. He continued, noting that the combination of Windows Phones and Windows 8 tablets will help Microsoft succeed in the Chinese market. “Our smartphone and tablet-pc are hybrid, making them suitable for the consumer, but also easy to insert within an existing company infrastructure. This will allow us to better anticipate the consumerization of IT than many competitors.”

In only two month after the initial launch of the Windows Phone-powered smartphone for the Chinese market, the Microsoft phone has overtaken Apple. Apple’s stake of the Chinese market it growing increasingly dependent on its negotiations with China Mobile. The next few months will prove vital in determining who will be the true mobile media emperor in the rapidly growing Chinese market.

Post brought to you by Tom Grimes, student of international affairs, technology enthusiast, and content developer at DutchCrafters.com Amish Made Furniture.