Apple and Google: The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same

In the global smartphone market, it's Apple and Google , then everybody else.

Both Apple and Google were essential in pushing the smartphone industry into the mainstream. And although they dominate the global smartphone market in very different ways today, they remain by far its most dominant forces nearly any way you slice it.

Source: Apple.

Same dynamic, different market
And although it remains a few years behind on its growth curve, the global tablet market appears to be playing out in much the same way as the smartphone market.

Recently, British research firm Gartner released its final analysis of the tablet market

So what does this mean for tech investors in this now-critical space? And as should hopefully come as no surprise to anyone at this point, it's beginning to look more and more like the smartphone market. For starters, Google's Android appears poised to continue its operating system market share land grab, while Apple should continue to mint money with its uber-profitable iPad.

In the video below, tech and telecom analyst Andrew Tonner looks at Gartner's numbers and what they mean for the likes of Apple and Google going forward.

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The article Apple and Google: The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same originally appeared on Fool.com.

Andrew Tonner owns shares of Apple. The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of Apple and Google. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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