the next frontier in technology. Smartwatches, in fact, have been leading the charge with several companies already having jumped into the game. The big names are also set to launch their solutions, including Google, Apple and Microsoft. However, as things stand, Samsung has managed to solidify its position as the largest maker of smartwatches in Q1 2014. Data from Strategy Analytics shows that the South Korean company has grabbed a massive 71 percent of the global market this past quarter. This essentially translates to around 500,000 units shipped in the first three months of the year, making for a respectable 52.4 percent increase from 2013. Competing solutions from Sony and Pebble, both, ended up with 11 percent each. Qualcomm, on the other hand, only managed to move 10,000 units of its Toq watch, which give its just a 1.4 percent of the global market share. If you thought these are some fascinating figures, wait till you hear what the future holds. Although its first effort, the original Galaxy Gear, was deemed by many a failure, Samsung has since then released the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo smartwatches. These were made available around the globe in April, and if the trend continues, Samsung will continue to dominate the market. Throw in the possibility of a new model called Gear Solo that allows users to make phone calls right from their wrist, and no wonder Microsoft is actively looking to break into this market. Break into the market, early.]]>
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Who has the biggest share now really doesn’t matter. Remember when Nokia had all the smart phone share. When you’re the first out, you’re going to start off with everything. The trick for competitors is to not let it go on so long, that a market gets associated with one particular brand
Good point. Unless the firm captures the first mover advantage, then the market can be up for grabs. It doesn’t seem as though Samsung has been make it unprofitable for other firms to produce a phone, so if Microsoft has the better product, they can take over the highest market share.
I still have heard an answer to why Microsoft had the patent yet samsung already has it out and is making money off of it… Does anyone know?
I’m curious about this too. I doubt the devices are different enough that they can be seen as technologically different. I’m not a lawyer, but based on what I remember from college about patent law, I don’t think Samsung should be able to make it if Microsoft had a patent as reported.