Analyst forecasts slowing growth for Apple's IOS

ANALYST OUTFIT Asymco is predicting that the sales growth of Apple IOS devices will significantly slow down in the coming five years.

Asymco's figures show that Apple's IOS devices will continue to grow in popularity, however the rate of sales growth will fall for the next five years, it predicts, dipping below 25 per cent after 2015. Nevertheless, according to the firm's figures there will be close to 600 million Apple IOS devices by 2016.

Apple's IOS devices have been star performers for the firm, with the Iphone and Ipad leading Apple's sales surge. Although there is little surprise to see IOS' staggering growth tailing off, the drop will be dramatic and sustained, according to Asymco's figures.

Asymco forecasts IOS growth to be just over 75 per cent in 2011, but a 20+ per cent drop in growth during 2012, with the firm forecasting that Apple will ship 260 million IOS devices next year.

Although Asymco is forecasting slowing growth, it predicts that the vast majority of IOS users will be upgrading to new IOS devices, not heading off to Google's Android. And if Apple can keep hold of its existing customer base, slowing growth will be of less concern, as after all there are only so many customers in the world.

Asymco's figures might be crystal ball gazing but it highlights the issue Apple is facing with increased competition in the smartphone and tablet markets. Although Apple still enjoys the vast majority of tablet sales, in the smartphone market Android has long since overtaken Apple, and slowing growth could be the prelude to a sales decline. µ