Android becomes leading smartphone platform

Google operating system leaps past Nokia to achieve 32.9 per cent market share

Google's Android operating system overtook Nokia in the fourth quarter of 2010 with over 33 million shipments compared to Nokia's 31 million, according to the latest figures from Canalys.

The analyst firm said that Android saw a whopping 615 per cent increase on its fourth quarter shipments for 2009, as LG, Samsung, Acer and HTC embraced the platform. HTC and Samsung accounted for almost 45 per cent of all shipments.

This gave Google a 32.9 per cent market share for the fourth quarter, pushing Nokia into second place with 30.6 per cent, as worldwide fourth-quarter sales rose by 89 per cent year on year.

Apple shipped 16.2 million units in the fourth quarter, a rise of 85 per cent, to give it a 16 per cent market share, while RIM lost a noticeable 5.6 per cent to drop to 14.4 per cent, although its shipments were up by 36 per cent.

Microsoft was the biggest loser, with shipments dropping by 20 per cent between the two quarters, possibly as consumers waited for its much anticipated Windows Phone 7 platform to hit the market.

Canalys vice president and principal analyst Chris Jones suggested that the figures will be hugely satisfying for vendors after a tricky 2009, but warned that the year ahead poses many new challenges.

"2010 has been a fantastic year for the smartphone market. After a difficult 2009, the speed with which the market has recovered has required real commitment and innovation from vendors, and they have risen to the challenge," he said.

"But vendors cannot afford to be complacent. 2011 is set to be a highly competitive year as vendors look to use new technology, such as dual-core processors, NFC and 3D displays, to differentiate their products and maintain value."