Android becomes leading smartphone platform

Google's Android has beaten Nokia into second place in global smartphone sales

Google's Android has become the world's leading smartphone platform, according to research firm Canalys.

The firm, which published its final fourth quarter 2010 analysis of smartphone sales today, found that 32.9 million Android-based smartphones were sold worldwide in 2010. Nokia's Symbian platform was second with 31 million sales.

The global smartphone market continues to grow apace, with shipments of 101.2 million units representing a growth of 89 per cent year on year.

Meanwhile, BlackBerry manufacturer Research in Motion (RIM) has claimed that its smartphone topped all competitors in UK sales in 2010.

Its figures, which excluded sales to enterprises, showed a market share of 36 per cent.

According to a report in The Daily Telegraph, Stephen Bates, UK managing director of RIM, said that the handset had moved "from the board room to the sitting room".

He added that younger customers were drawn to BlackBerry by its messenger tool, as well as by sophisticated web and email capabilities.