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>> This 55% is iPhone's share of phone shipments in Q2, not the number of users of the respective phones at any given time. That's generally what a "market sha

by sib 3y ago

>> This 55% is iPhone's share of phone shipments in Q2, not the number of users of the respective phones at any given time. That's generally what a "market share" number measures: the share of sales during a period of times. The number of users of devices would be the "installed base."

Iulioh 3y ago
Well, yeah, but androids and iphones are not "one and done purchases" but are interfaces with a 30% profit margin on digital goods.
ksec 3y ago
>That's generally what a "market share" number measures: the share of sales during a period of times. We don't measure Browser Market Share as number of downloads during a period of times. Nor do we measure OS market share as number of license sold during a quarter. The reason why Market Share, or share of sales during a period of times were used for commodity, repeatable sales. Because knowing you have 50% of Ketchup sales meaning you own 50% of the Ketchup market. And when you talk to average people, no one would think Market Share of Browser, OS, Photoshop, as Sales over period of time. The same goes with Apple and Android, when you talk about market share, people will think usage. Not shipment. Unfortunately even on HN the two is 99% mixed up. As a matter of fact this is the first time someone mention this difference that even gets enough attentions to be the top voted comment.
- 121789 3y ago
  I'm not sure what you're trying to get at here. I've worked with these phone manufacturers and they often used the term market share to refer to share of sales / shipments / whatever over a monthly or quarterly time period. I think there is flexibility in the term.
  - esrauch 3y ago
    It doesn't seem surprising that companies whose bottom line is from the hardware sale moment would define it that way, and people who aren't (for example, people selling apps, people running websites, people looking around at what phones their friends and family have) would define it by "devices in use" instead of new sales.
- sib 3y ago
  Since browsers are not sold (ok, let's agree that ~99% of browsers are not sold), there's not a sales market to talk about. Ask any mobile phone industry analyst, or a product manager (or product marketing manager) at a mobile phone OEM, or a sales manager at a telco, for the definition of mobile phone market share and they will tell you "the share of sales during a period of time." >> The same goes with Apple and Android, when you talk about market share This is 100% not true. Ask anyone in the industry and they will agree that it represents sales, not installed base. As a point of reference, I used to work at Google, in Android specifically. Previous to that, I spent 10 years in the mobile industry, much of it briefing industry analysts & journalists.

by sib 3y ago

Iulioh 3y ago

Well, yeah, but androids and iphones are not "one and done purchases" but are interfaces with a 30% profit margin on digital goods.

ksec 3y ago

>That's generally what a "market share" number measures: the share of sales during a period of times. We don't measure Browser Market Share as number of downloads during a period of times. Nor do we measure OS market share as number of license sold during a quarter. The reason why Market Share, or share of sales during a period of times were used for commodity, repeatable sales. Because knowing you have 50% of Ketchup sales meaning you own 50% of the Ketchup market. And when you talk to average people, no one would think Market Share of Browser, OS, Photoshop, as Sales over period of time. The same goes with Apple and Android, when you talk about market share, people will think usage. Not shipment. Unfortunately even on HN the two is 99% mixed up. As a matter of fact this is the first time someone mention this difference that even gets enough attentions to be the top voted comment.

121789 3y ago
I'm not sure what you're trying to get at here. I've worked with these phone manufacturers and they often used the term market share to refer to share of sales / shipments / whatever over a monthly or quarterly time period. I think there is flexibility in the term.
- esrauch 3y ago
  It doesn't seem surprising that companies whose bottom line is from the hardware sale moment would define it that way, and people who aren't (for example, people selling apps, people running websites, people looking around at what phones their friends and family have) would define it by "devices in use" instead of new sales.
sib 3y ago
Since browsers are not sold (ok, let's agree that ~99% of browsers are not sold), there's not a sales market to talk about. Ask any mobile phone industry analyst, or a product manager (or product marketing manager) at a mobile phone OEM, or a sales manager at a telco, for the definition of mobile phone market share and they will tell you "the share of sales during a period of time." >> The same goes with Apple and Android, when you talk about market share This is 100% not true. Ask anyone in the industry and they will agree that it represents sales, not installed base. As a point of reference, I used to work at Google, in Android specifically. Previous to that, I spent 10 years in the mobile industry, much of it briefing industry analysts & journalists.