Windows Phone Nearly Doubles Market Share In Europe

Microsoft has confirmed that its Windows Phone has nearly doubled its share in the European smartphone market, compared to this time last year.

Just one year ago, the Windows Phone held a 5.1% share of all smartphone sales in Europe.  That figure has now jumped to a much more respectable 9.2% across the five big EU countries: UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

Alright, it still may not be challenging Android’s crown any time soon, as the operating system accounts for a huge 70.1% of sales, but it definitely means that the Windows Phone is becoming a real player in the smartphone market.

To break it down by country a little, the Windows Phone made up 12% of smartphone sales in Great Britain.  In Germany, Windows Phone has an 8.8% share, compared to iPhone’s 9.4%.  That will probably all change over the next quarter, due to the release of the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C, which will mean an increase in sales for Apple.

The Windows Phone’s increase in market share is mainly down to the release of the Nokia Lumia 520 and 620 handsets – both smartphones that are targeted at the 16 to 24 year-olds and 35 to 49 year-olds groups.  Perhaps Windows Phone is finally finding its niche – providing a device that offers pretty great functionality at a reasonable price?

Android controls 78.7% of Germany’s smartphone market, and 90.8% of Spain’s, so it’s clearly the biggest deal by a long way.  But analysts are now suggesting that Android might have reached saturation point, and will find it struggle to grow any more in the five major EU markets.  Perhaps to continue its rise, it will need to look more at the developing markets, and try and offer something different.