Computerworld - Android and iPhone devices together made up 82% of all smartphones shipped to retailers in the first quarter of 2012, IDC said Thursday.
The combined worldwide shipments of Android- and Apple iOS-based devices dwarfs those of other smartphone operating systems, including Research in Motion's BlackBerry, a traditional frontrunner now on a "downward trajectory," IDC said in a statement.
Gartner on May 16 had said that Android and iPhone smartphones accounted for nearly 79% of all smartphones shipped in the first quarter, slightly below.
Smartphones shipped to retailers are expected to be sold, especially the popular Android and iPhone models.
Android phones made by various manufacturers accounted for 59% of first quarter shipments, or 152.3 million devices, while iOS-based iPhones accounted for 23%, IDC said.
IDC analyst Kevin Restivo said smartphone OS laggards like BlackBerry and Windows Phone need to win greater loyalty from app developers to grow market share. "Developer intentions of enthusiasm for a particular operating system is typically a leading indicator of hardware sales success," he said in a statement.
IDC said Samsung accounted for 45.4% of all Android-based smartphone shipments in the first quarter, which topped the pack.
The Symbian OS held a 6.8% of the share of shipments in the quarter, down 60% from the first quarter of 2011, as a result of Nokia's move to Windows Phone.
BlackBerry's share of shipments was just 6.4%, a 30% decline from the first quarter of 2011.
Windows Phone and Windows Mobile OS's had a 2.2% share of first quarter shipments, up 27% from the first quarter of 2011, IDC said.
Matt Hamblen covers mobile and wireless, smartphones and other handhelds, and wireless networking for Computerworld. Follow Matt on Twitter at 
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. His e-mail address is mhamblen@computerworld.com.
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