Smartphone newbies boost Windows Phone profits

While accounting for just 5.6% of smartphone sales during the first quarter of 2013, Windows Phone has showed continued growth, gaining 1.9% compared to the same period last year.

That is according to data released by research group Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, who says Android still leads the way within the industry.

With nearly half (49.3%) of smartphone sales, Google's operating system remains the top seller, but saw only slight growth compared to the same period last year.

Unsurprisingly iOS remain a close second with 43.7% of smartphone sales, down throughout Q1 2013.

“As iOS and Android continue to battle it out for top selling smartphone OS, we have seen Windows steadily grow over the past year and is now at its highest sales share figure so far," says Mary-Ann Parlato, analyst, Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.

Windows share growth has continued to rise in markets across the US and Europe, particularly where Windows is supported by the legacy of its hardware partners.

But Parlato says the US market differs in the fact that there are still many users in the market that are yet to upgrade to their first smartphone device, with Windows starting to capture these consumers.

“Windows strength appears to be the ability to attract first time smartphone buyers, upgrading from a featurephone," she says.

"Of those who changed their phone over the last year to a Windows smartphone, 52% had previously owned a featurephone.

"Comparatively, the majority of iOS and Android new customers were repeat smartphone buyers, with 55% of new iOS customers, and 51% of new Android customers coming from another smartphone.

"While the differences between these figures are small, with over half of the US market still owning a featurephone, it’s likely that many will upgrade over the coming year, which will ultimately contribute to more growth for the Windows brand.”

Can Windows Phone continue its slow and steady climb up the smartphone ladder? Tell us your thoughts below