Could This Test Apple Inc. (AAPL), Google Inc (GOOG) In Near Future?

In the smartphone operating system market, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android enjoy a comfortable lead at the top. For the most part, these two companies, led by Tim Cook and Larry Page, respectively, are beating the heck out of one another as they attempt to gain ground.

New findings from Juniper Research show that the smartphone operating system market is going to change in the years to come, thanks to emerging newcomers including Asha and Sailfish.

New players have come and gone before. The real question is this: can any of these companies realistically dent the market that is currently led by Apple and Google?

The report feels that these contenders could focus on key areas, such as cost innovation and local knowledge.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Samsung Still Leading

The Apple iPhone, with its iOS operating system, as well as Samsung, and its Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android operating system, are still dominating the global market.

As noted by Juniper, the two companies are expected to ship “17 percent more smartphones in 2018 than were shipped globally by all vendors in 2012.” In other words, there is no reason to believe these two companies are going to slow down at any point over the next five years.

The report also notes that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is poised to make up ground in emerging markets, thanks to its expected announcement of a cheaper smartphone.

Last year, Apple and Samsung shipped 677 million smartphones worldwide. A big number indeed. Juniper feels that there is even more room to grow, with the two companies hitting nearly 800 million shipments by the end of 2018.

Remember, when you talk about Samsung’s dominance in the smartphone market you have to give Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) a lot of credits. Its Android operating system is one of the main reasons why Samsung has been able to rise up the charts and go against Cupertino head to head.

While these companies continue to dominate and are expected to do the same going forward, don’t sleep on the up and comers. They could disrupt the industry big time.

For those who are expecting big things from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), thanks to a cheaper device, Josh Lowensohn of CNET explains the ins and outs in greater detail.

How do you think Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) feels about a cheaper iPhone?

Better yet, how do hedge fund managers such as David Einhorn, Mark Diker, and Christopher Hansen feel?

The video below talks about iOS in greater detail:

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