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Developed by Google, the Linux-based Android operation system for smartphones has been gaining immense popularity in the mobile market. It has received significant attention from customers in Pakistan’s growing mobile market.
In terms of mobile phone users Pakistan ranks 8th worldwide and 5th in Asia. In a world having 5.6 billion mobile-phone users, China tops the ranking by having the maximum number of mobile phone users followed by India, United States, Indonesia, Brazil, Russia, Japan and Pakistan.
Nearly 67% of the Pakistan’s population uses mobile phones and 23% of them own Smartphones. Although the overall share of Smartphones is comparatively lower, it is reckoned to increase significantly.
In Pakistan, all sorts of latest Android phones are available in the market including the most popular sets ranked by PC World i.e. Samsung Galaxy Nexus, HTC One X, Rezound, T-Mobile MyTouch 4G Slide, Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX and Samsung Epic Touch 4G.
The android phone market caters both economical and costly sets and includes cheap sets like Galaxy Y and HTC Explorer as well as latest expensive sets like HTC One X and Galaxy NOTE etc. The available phone sets range from prices as low as Rs. 8,490 (Samsung C3312 Duos) to Rs 79,990 (Sharp Aquos 3D SH8298U). It has been intimated that the best selling set in market is Samsung Galaxy SII.
Android penetration in Pakistan can be observed from the fact that Pakistan Air Force (PAF) manufactured and introduced Android tablet, PACPAD. Previously, PAF also launched their net-book and an e-book reader as well. Being initially manufactured at Kamra, the introduction of PACPAD is aimed to provide cheaper solutions to local consumers. Currently, PACPAD is available for display and selling at following points:
- Kamra: PAC Commissary, ARF PAC Kamra
- Rawalpindi: Mobile Plus – Shop No. 15, Singapore Plaza, Bank Road, Saddar, Rawalpindi.
Most downloaded Android apps in Pakistan are iQuran, CamScanner, Advanced TaskKiller, AccuWeather and Barcode Scanner. Barcode Scanner is the only one amongst them having listed in top 50 downloaded applications internationally.
Globally, top downloaded applications are Temple Run, Instagram, Tubemate Youtube Downloader, WiFi unlocker, Mario Kart Racing, Hackers Hope Pro, Number Book, Facebook for Android and Adobe Flash Player 11 etc.
Based on monthly statistics by Google, the top countries in downloading android apps are:
- South Korea
- Hong Kong
- Taiwan
- United States
- Singapore
- Sweden
- Israel
- Denmark
- Netherlands
- Norway
Most of android application developments come from United States, United Kingdom, India, Netherlands and Spain.
