Mobile OS Monopoly
The market share of Google’s mobile operating system (OS) in Korea is reportedly higher than in any other country. The industry points out that it is necessary to be wary of the monopoly of the search giant’s mobile OS, as in the case of the domination of Microsoft’s Windows OS for PCs.
According to market research firms such as Net Applications and iCrossing on March 10, the share of Android in the local mobile OS market exceeds 90 percent, 20 to 50 percent higher than other countries.
Google’s mobile OS makes up around 40 percent in the US, which is a stronghold of Apple’s iOS, while it accounts for 45 percent in Japan, 43.9 percent in the UK, and 29.7 percent in Australia.
The market share of Android is 72.1 percent in China, which is known for its heavy reliance on Google’s OS, and 54.4 percent in Germany. Korea, on the other hand, is the only country where Android’s share in the local mobile OS market surpasses 90 percent.
Industry analysts are saying that Android’s market dominance in the nation is attributable to the fact that local handset makers such as Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, and Pantech mostly sell Android phones.
An industry source remarked, “When iPhones were introduced at first, Apple’s iOS comprised more than 30 percent in the nation. However, since 2012, the market share of Google’s OS has risen steadily to reach 90 percent.” The source added, “In the past two years, local mobile app developers have switched from iOS to Android.”
Experts are saying that it is unavoidable that Google’s mobile platform increases its share in the local market, given that Google’s OS continues to grow in the worldwide mobile OS market. Nevertheless, they are worried about Android’s domination. In particular, many in the industry are saying that the nation should introduce its own policy to develop a state-approved alternative to reduce its serious dependence on Android, based on prior experience in the PC market.
A source in the software industry observed, “Korea is not alone in Android’s domination. China is in the same boat. So, the Chinese government is leading the effort to prepare for its own mobile OS.” The source added, “It is necessary to come up with a measure to lessen our county’s heavy reliance on Google’s mobile OS by increasing the efficiency of other OSs and promoting proper balance between Android and other mobile platforms.”
In fact, China already unveiled its own mobile OS, dubbed China Operating System (COS), last January, after years of government-sponsored research and development efforts to secure its own competitiveness in the mobile OS market dominated by Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS. COS is based on Linux and serves as an operating platform for PCs, smartphones, tablets, and set-top boxes. Chinese smartphone manufacturers, including Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC are going to release smartphones and tablets with a built-in COS.