iOS hits 315m devices so far

Apple as part of its fall fiscal results revealed that a total of 315 million iOS devices had been activated in the platform's 4.5-year history. The marker included the over 62 million devices shipped just in the fall alone. Total 2011 iPhone sales by themselves were strong enough to outsell those from the previous four years combined.

About 55 million iPads have been shipped since April 2010, CEO Tim Cook said.

The mention was a possibly deliberate foil to Google's claims less than a week ago of 250 million Android devices switched on since October 2008. Apple only just edged Samsung in smartphones, but its much more successful tablet strategy may have seen it eclipse multiple Android makers. Cook added that there was no real competition for the iPod touch, leaving the seven to eight million iOS media players virtually uncontested by hardware like Samsung's Galaxy Player line.

Whether or not Apple can hold its symbolic device base lead isn't clear. At its new rate of 700,000 activations per day, Android would be exactly even with what iOS managed this fall. Both sides will have to avoid the characteristic post-holiday dip in sales. This may be easier for Apple, which has more lately dodged declines early in the year and has a considerably newer headline device than most of its challengers. HTC, Samsung, and most other Android supporters won't show new models until late February and won't be ready to ship until the spring.

By Electronista Staff