A new market survey has shown that Google's Android OS has surged past Apple's iPhone army for the first time in the US.
Market research firm NPD has noted that while RIM is still taking a large share of the smartphone market (with 36%) Android-powered phones are now sitting pretty in second spot, with 28% share of the US.
Apple's line up, which includes just three models, is still showing strongly in third with 21%, and with the new iPhone HD popping out soon, will be hoping to increase that.
Windows Mobile phones have continued to drop in popularity, coming in at just a shade over 10 per cent of the market.
A whole new world
What is interesting to note that at the same period just 12 months ago, it was a very different story: RIM was miles out in front with 46%, Windows Mobile was having a great time on 22% and the iPhone just behind on 19%.
Google's Android was pootling about on 6% of the market, and in a year, it has nabbed 22%, and mostly from RIM and Apple sales.
However, it might be slightly better news for RIM and Microsoft, as the survey didn't include corporate or enterprise sales – so while people might have a Googlephone in one hand, a fair few will have a BlackBerry (or maybe WinMo device) in their briefcase too.
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healeydave
May 11th 2010
3. Its a bit of a meaningless statistic though, I think every mobile manufacturer apart from Apple makes an Android handset. Androids kinda taken over from Symbian.
Its like trying to compare sales of Windows versus OSX when every man his dog makes PC's and bundles Windows versus 1 x manufacturer selling OSX & iPhones in this example.
What is impressive is how well Apple's sales stats stack up when they are only One company versus Hundreds of others!
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bradavon
May 11th 2010
2. The the trouble is, with so many Android skins out there, people don't even know they've got Android.
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stevewiilliams
May 11th 2010
1. That is amazing. I don't hate Apple but I often get annoyed that the trail of hype they leave behind tends to have a negative effect on other companies who wish to get a foothold in the smartphone market. I love this news.
Awesome.
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