comScore: Smartphone penetration rate in five European countries reached 55% in Q3 2012

On the evening of December 17, 2012, research company comScore released a report on Monday saying that in the first three months ending at the end of October, the smartphone penetration rate in the five major European countries of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom was 55%, with a total of 131.5 million users.

Spain has the highest smartphone penetration rate, reaching 63.2%, up 14.8 percentage points year-on-year. In the UK, Apple is still the largest mobile phone manufacturer, with a market share of 28%, followed by Samsung, with a market share of 24%. Google Android continues to lead, with a market share of 46.4%, while Apple iOS is 28%.

As of the end of October, the number of smartphone users in the five European countries was 131.5 million, up 35% from 97.7 million in the same period last year. The mobile phone penetration rate was 54.6%, up 13 percentage points year-on-year. Spain had the highest smartphone penetration rate at 63.2%. The UK was second with a penetration rate of 62.3%. France was third with a penetration rate of 51.4%. Italy was fourth with a penetration rate of 51.2%. Germany was fifth with a penetration rate of 48.4%.

By manufacturer, Apple is the largest smartphone manufacturer in the UK, with a market share of 28%, up from 26.5% in the same period last year. Samsung ranks second, with a market share of 24%, up from 11.2% in the same period last year. RIM ranks third, with a market share of 15.2%, down from 17.7% in the same period last year. HTC ranks fourth, with a market share of 15%. Nokia ranks fifth, with a market share of 7.9%.

By operating system, Google Android's market share in the UK was 46.4%, ranking first, compared with 34.2% in the same period last year. Apple iOS's market share was 28%, compared with 26.5% in the same period last year. RIM ranked third with a market share of 15.2%, down from 17.7% in the same period last year. Symbian ranked fourth with a market share of 6.4%, down from 17.2% in the same period last year. Microsoft ranked fifth with a market share of 3.1%, compared with 2.6% in the same period last year.