Apple Inc. (AAPL) Finally Squeezes Google Inc. (GOOGL)

Saying that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) are fierce competitors in the smartphone world is an understatement. Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android are the two big dogs on the block, with both fighting to be number one in a variety of categories.

According to ABI Research, it looks like Apple is finally putting the squeeze on Google. Here is what a recent report from the research company had to say:

“Certified Android smartphone shipments fell quarter-on-quarter for the first time in 4Q 2014. In what is traditionally a shipment spike quarter, certified Android shipments fell from 217 million in 3Q 2014 to 206 million in 4Q 2014, mainly due to Apple iOS’ 90% growth from 39.3 million to 74.5 million iPhones shipped, but also due to forked Android.”

As you can see, some of the fall had to do with internal decisions and struggles at Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL). However, you should not discount the power of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and its iPhone.

In short, Apple’s success, particularly with its most recent iPhone, is taking away market share from “premium tier vendors.” When it comes to the top end of the market, Cupertino continues to assert its will and show its dominance. Unfortunately for Android, it is taking the brunt of the beating.

Nick Spencer of ABI Research added the following:

“Worrying times for Google’s mobile services and Android, but it presents opportunity for other service providers and even operating systems.”

That pretty much says it all. While Android isn’t going anywhere, it is easy to see that other service providers and operating systems see the opportunity to finally get a foot in the door. From Apple’s perspective, its foot is already in the door. Now, Cupertino is focused on picking up even more market share.

With a QoQ growth percentage of 90 percent, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has to be happy about the way things are going. On the flip side, Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) finally hit a wall in the fourth quarter of 2014, falling quarter on quarter for the first time.

If we know one thing about the smartphone market it is this: nothing remains the same for too long. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) may be feeling good about this news, with Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) on the opposite side of the equation, but there is a lot of game to be played in 2015.

Disclosure: none