Apple starts 2009 with strong Net gains
Apple (AAPL) consolidated its 2008 holiday Internet market-share gains with strong performances from the Mac, iPhone and iPod touch in January, according to preliminary data issued overnight Sunday by Net Applications.
The Web metrics company had warned last month that residential usage during the holiday season might skew results in favor of Apple products like the Mac, which tend to get used more in the home than the office.
But the Mac's share grew another 3.12% in January to grab a record 9.93% of Internet traffic. The iPhone grew even faster, albeit from a smaller base, up 9.09% to 0.48%, also a new record.
The biggest winner in January, however, was the iPod touch, whose "explosive" growth in December continued unabated after the holidays, growing 37.5% to reach a 0.11% Internet share. (See chart at right.) That means that more than one out of every 1,000 Web hits in January were made from iPod touches — at least according to Net Applications' data.
Net Applications’ monthly surveys are conducted by sampling browser data from some 160 million visits to Web sites operated by the firm’s clients. The company describes the results as “market shares,” but they do not actually measure share of market in the traditional sense of sales revenue or unit sales. They do, however, provide a consistent methodology by which to gauge operating system trends.
To see its Feb. 1 report, click here. The results are summarized in the table below.
Although Microsoft (MSFT) Windows still dominates both the desktop and the Web — with nearly 9 out of 10 page views — it lost Internet share for the sixth month in a row. The news last month, according to Net Applications, was the surprisingly strong showing for Windows 7, an OS that has not yet been formally released. As Net Application reports:
"The Windows 7 beta releases in January have led to a spike in usage share … This is an indication of strong interest in Windows 7, since it does not come pre-installed on a computer like Vista. Beta users are taking the time and effort to install it on their home computers, since corporations generally prohibit beta operating systems to be used in production environments." (link)
just wait till the millions of apple college students become the ones in charge of americas businesses! any chance they'll buy windows machines for home or for their businesses? doubtful.
To those who predict Windows hegemony forever:
Remember IBM… How many of the Fortune 500 are all IBM shops now, as compared to, say, 20 years ago?
Apple should do more to support 'the enterprise' and Linux is making inroads. But if we've learned nothing from this business (presuming anyone has memories longer than 5 years), is that -nothing lasts forever-…
@iphonerulez – Businesses will change the operating system they prefer over time if there is a clear advantage. Just like businesses don't store data on punchcards or data tape any more, they will seek the best technology that helps their operation.
In any case, Apple doesn't need to have a 50% computer operating system market share to be an extremely profitable business. They are doing great despite the recession. It will emerge stronger, more focused, and with much weakened competition. The economics for Apple have never been stronger.
When apple finally get 10%, the crazies are going to run through the streets in packs, setting fire to anyone found using a PC.
The point is well made that Apple have been around for six hundred years already and they haven't cracked the 10. Not exactly a ringing endorsement, is it?
And no, I am not trying to alter the stock price. I have a life, and I work for a living.
"Unfortunately, Windows is just too greatly in use around the world and it will never lose it’s popularity." … Younger people are more likely to buy a Mac. Windows users are a dying breed. Go find another stock to short.
So, since there are over 17M iPhones in the marketplace, that web usage stat indicates that there must be at least 4M iPod Touches out there. Probably more, since the iPod can only access the internet thru wifi. So, at least 21M devices that AppStore developers can directly sell to. No wonder there are so many apps and apps downloaded.
Wow! Impressive. In another 10 years or so Apple might actually capture 30% of the internet share providing Apple doesn't go out of business after Steve Jobs leaves. Unfortunately, Windows is just too greatly in use around the world and it will never lose it's popularity. It's probably too ingrained into the corporate structure which will resist any sort of change. The Mac has been around 25 darn years and couldn't even budge a small percentage from Microsoft. That's fairly pathetic, so to think much is going to change in favor of OSX or OSXI in a few years is highly unlikely. If OSX is only allowed to run on Mac hardware then it's doomed to obscurity.
Imagine a Skype application for the iPod Touch. Oh wait, there IS a Skype application for the iPod Touch/iPhone.
Don't like ATT? Don't like contracts period? iPod Touch with Skype, that'll do ya.
iPod Touch is an awesome device. Sure it's not a phone, but it's everything else a PDA could be and should be. iPhone is a great phone, but Apple needs to lose the AT&T exclusivity to make it greater.
confused… if ipod touch is at .11% now, why is it not in the charts below iphone and above playstation?
Ipod Touch is awesome it is amazing the things I can do with this little puppy I love mine.To get yours on the cheap visit: http://www.seeksomething.com
I have heard a lot of negative feedback regarding the iphone. The touch screen is too sensitive and randomly calls people in your contact list. I do not want a phone that calls more people than I do! Once this is fixed im sure it will be a great product