Microsoft’s Windows Phone is making modest but steady progress in the smartphone market, according to the latest numbers from the IDC research firm. Shipments of Windows Phone reached 7 million units in the first quarter, the firm says.
That gave Microsoft 3.2 percent market share and put Windows Phone ahead of BlackBerry, which came in at 6.3 million units, or 2.9 percent market share.
Meanwhile, Android is running away with the market, registering 75 percent market share for the quarter, with 162.1 million units shipped. Apple came in at 37.4 million units, or 17.3 percent market share.
Here’s what IDC has to say on the topic of Windows Phone …
Windows Phone posted the largest year-over-year gain among the leading operating systems, more than doubling its size from a year ago. Nokia was largely responsible for driving these volumes higher, accounting for 79.0% of all Windows Phone shipments during the quarter. Since Nokia began shipping Windows Phone devices, the company has shipped a total of 20.3 million units and grown the footprint worldwide to include address multiple market segments. Meanwhile, other vendors continue to offer Windows Phone devices, but mainly as an alternative to their signature Android devices. Still, the gains made by Windows Phone demonstrate both end-user demand and OEM support.
Nokia has been looking to build on its momentum with the unveiling of the new Lumia 928 for Verizon and the Lumia 925, which will be exclusive to T-Mobile USA in the U.S.
Previously: Windows Phone Diary: 5 things for Microsoft to fix, and 1 for Apple to steal
