Apple"s iPhone 4S enjoyed record sales in the US and other parts of the world when it launched in October. That sales success has not translated to every country, at least according to a new research report. Reuters reports that the research firm Kantar Worldpanel ComTech claims that in some European territories the market share of the iPhone has gone down in favor of devices that use Google"s Android operating system.
The report claims that in France, the market share of the iPhone has gone down from 29 percent to 20 percent in the 12 week period that ended in late November. In Germany, the market share for the iPhone went down from 27 percent to 22 percent in the same time period. It also claims that similar market share drops occurred in Spain and in Italy.
All of those countries are currently dealing with a massive economic crisis that is affecting all of Europe. The report claims that as a result, consumers are holding off on making large purchases due to the economic issues.
Android phones, many of which are much cheaper than the iPhone 4S, are becoming more popular in those countries. The report claims that in Germany, Android-based devices have now achieved 61 percent market share in smartphones.