Apple Dominates Smartphone Industry with Just iPhone 4

Apple's iPhone 4 is over one year old, which is ancient in the technology world. But even with this "old" product, Apple is dominating the smartphone industry.

For the second quarter of 2011, Apple shipped 20.3 million units of smartphones globally, or 18 percent of the total market share, according to Strategy Analytics. Compared to last year, Apple's global shipments grew 140 percent, which makes it the fastest growing large smartphone maker in the world.

Strategy Analytics also pointed out the strong performance of Apple smartphones in Asia and especially China, which is a growth market that will likely become increasingly important in the future.

Apple scored all these accomplishments in the second quarter of 2011 "despite the fact that its flagship iPhone 4 is now more than a year old," stated the International Data Corporation (IDC).

In the meantime, manufacturers of the Android, RIM, and Microsoft have released multiple new phones. Still, they have failed to keep up with Apple and its beloved iPhone 4.

A recent ChangeWave Research survey, for example, revealed that 70 percent of Apple iOS customers are "very satisfied" with their product, compared with 50 percent for Android, 27 percent for Windows OS, and 26 percent for RIM.

Moreover, the June ChangeWave survey revealed that 46 percent of customers planned to buy an iOS phone over the next 90 days compared with 32 percent for Android and four percent for RIM.

Apple will finally release the iPhone 5, its next generation smartphone, possibly in Sept. 2011.

The iPhone 5 is expected to sport better hardware, more features, and an upgraded operating system. If Apple continues its history of success with its new products, the iPhone 5 could help it take an even more commanding lead in the smartphone industry.