Facebook has an overwhelmingly strong hold on the iPhone and Android app stores. Business Insider reports the revelation of new research conducted by Nomura and based on Sensor Tower data that, during May, 62% of downloads from those stores were for Facebook’s apps.
While the download rates for these apps have recently been slipping, Nomura’s data indicates that, last month, Facebook’s main app still prompted a hefty 16% of downloads on smartphones. That figure was 11% for Instagram, 17% for Facebook Messenger and 18% for WhatsApp.
This means that even big name developers, including Google and Microsoft, who offer many well-known and popular apps for both iOS and Android are easily getting squeezed out by Facebook in the hugely thriving smartphone app market. It’s little wonder that Nomura researchers have declared Facebook “the clear leader in mobile”.
