By 2016, Windows Phone will become the third mobile OS

The analytical company IDC has published a fresh forecast for the development of the mobile OS market for 2016. By this time, Windows Phone should occupy 11.4% of the smartphone market.

The published forecast of IDC is somewhat at odds with the report of March this year.At that time, analysts predicted a share of 20.9% for the mobile platform from Microsoft already for 2015 (that is, Windows Phone was supposed to come in second place in popularity, overtaking Apple).

In the latest report, in turn, we are talking about achieving a share 2 times smaller – 11.4%. Moreover, this forecast is no longer for 2015, but for 2016. It is assumed that Windows Phone, bypassing BlackBerry, will take the third place in popularity of mobile platforms. To achieve this indicator, the average annual growth of the platform should be at least 71.3%.

In the situation with the leading Android and iOS, the picture will not change significantly in the foreseeable future. According to the forecast, in 2016 the share of the Google platform will even decrease somewhat: from the current 68.3% to 63.8%. The Apple platform will take 19.1%.

BlackBerry and Linux positions will continue to fall. At the same time, other platforms, analysts say, will account for no more than 0.1% of the smartphone market by 2016.

In total, the smartphone market will grow by 18.3% per year on average.