Android will pass 1 billion users across all devices in 2014, according to Gartner

Android is on course to break one billion users across all devices this year, up 26 percent on 2013, according to a report from research firm Gartner.

The Google-owned platform passed one billion activations in September, but Gartner says it will surpass the milestone based on active device owners over the next 12 months. A dominant 75 percent of users are expected to come from emerging markets, where Android is the platform of choice for manufacturers producing budget smartphones and tablets.

Overall, Gartner says industry-wide mobile phone shipments will reach 1.9 billion shipments this year, a five percent increase on 2013. ‘Ultramobiles’ — a segment comprised of tablets, hybrids and clamshells — are expected to grow the fastest of all devices, at a rate of 54 percent year-on-year, the firm says.

Looking at tablets separately, Gartner says shipments will grow 47 percent year-on-year spurred by lower retail prices and the increasing popularity of smaller-sized tablets — although it hasn’t broken out specific figures for the tablet space.

“Complimentary smaller tablets will take over from the larger tablet form factors, providing the added mobility that consumers desire at a lower cost and will compete with hybrids for consumer attention,” said Ranjit Atwal, research director at Gartner.

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