Android overtakes Opera Mini to become number two mobile browser

Apple's Safari browser still leading the way with 60 per cent share

The Android browser has overtaken Opera Mini to become the second most commonly used mobile phone browser, according to figures from Net Applications.

Google's mobile browser market share increased steadily from 12 per cent to 18 per cent between January and October, but use of Opera Mini tumbled during the same period, from 21 per cent at the start of the year to 13 per cent.

The popularity of the Android browser has been rising throughout 2011, largely down to blistering sales of devices such as the Samsing Galaxy S II, which broke the 10 million sales mark in September.

However, Google still has some way to go before it can challenge Apple for the top spot. Safari remains the most popular mobile browser, with around 62 per cent of mobile users accessing the internet on the move via an iOS-based device.

Apple's market share has grown by eight per cent since January, as the iPhone and iPad continue to lead the market in terms of sales. Apple sold 11.12 million iPads and 17.07 million iPhones during the last quarter and looks likely to continue as the leader.

Meanwhile, the Symbian platform has decreased to just 2.5 per cent compared to six per cent at the start of 2011. However, this is unsurprising as Nokia announced that sales of high-end smartphones slumped by 39 per cent year on year in its third-quarter financial report.

Rounding off the top five is the BlackBerry browser, which has remained steady at an unspectacular two per cent all year.