We're living in an Android world.
A new comScore report this week shows Google's (Nasdaq: GOOG) smartphone and tablet operating system running away with the wireless-handset market. Yes, it's even widening the lead it has over Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) iPhone.
By making its platform freely available, Google has seen handset makers and wireless carriers flock to the glitzy, Web-savvy operating system, which now commands 38.1% of the market. Apple's iPhone is getting smaller in Android's rearview mirror at 26.6%. Both formats have gained ground in the three months ending in May, according to comScore, but Google is gobbling up market share faster.
This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but Apple isn't doing itself any favors by missing its historical June-July release window for its latest iPhone.
Briefly in the news
And now let's take a quick look at some of the other stories that shaped our week.
- Affymetrix (Nasdaq: AFFX) took a hit after lowering its second-quarter guidance. One would think that a genetic-analysis specialist should have seen this coming sooner, no?
- Encouraged by the box-office success of Rango earlier this year, Viacom's (NYSE: VIA) Paramount is launching its own in-house animation unit. It's targeting 2014 for its first release.
- XO Group (NYSE: XOXO), the lifestyle company that was previously known as The Knot, is joining forces with China's SINA (Nasdaq: SINA) to launch a weddings channel on SINA's popular online portal. That's an awfully long way to go to kiss the bride.
- Canaccord Genuity initiated coverage of InterMune (Nasdaq: ITMN) with a "buy" rating based on the early clinical success and eventual blockbuster potential of InterMune's treatments. There's nothing like a strong pipeline to keep a biotech stock flowing higher.
Until next week, I remain,
Rick Munarriz
