Android took just 11% of smartphone profit in Q4 - study

Devices running the Android OS captured just 11.3 percent of global smartphone profit share during the final quarter of 2014, down from 29.5 percent a year ago, compared to a record high of 88.7 percent captured by Apple iOS devices, up from 70.5 percent. The latest research from Strategy Analytics revealed that global smartphone operating profit increased by 31 percent year on year to reach USD 21 billion in the fourth quarter. The contrast in the results of the two dominant operating systems is explained by Apple's hugely profitable strategy of premium products and lean logistics, said the report, which goes on to predict that Android's weak profitability will be a concern to Google. In fact, it warns that major smartphone manufacturers such as Samsung or Huawei may be tempted to look at alternative platforms such as Microsoft, Tizen or Firefox if they cannot make decent profits from the Android ecosystem.