20 Oct Android Leads the Pack
Google’s Android is the most popular smartphone OS for those buying new handsets, according to recent figures by market research firm Nielsen. Their results show that in the three months to the end of August, 56% of US buyers of smartphones chose an Android device, while Apple iPhones with Apple’s iOS operating system were bought by 28% of buyers. These figures may change quickly if Apple launches the iPhone 5 next month as expected, especially in the run-up to Christmas.
Among those who recently bought phones, 58% opted for a smartphone, a higher proportion than the 43% seen among all phone buyers Nielsen has measured since summer 2010.
Among all smartphone users (as opposed to new phone owners), Android is the most popular platform with 43% owning these devices, Apple second with 28% followed by Blackberry with 18%. Other platforms, such as Nokia, Microsoft, and Samsung, make up the remainder.
The company has just unveiled the latest version of Android – this incarnation, codenamed ‘Ice Cream Sandwich’ (actually Android 4) adds a set of new features such as facial recognition for phone unlocking, along with a redesigned interface. The version has been launched in collaboration with Samsung, whose Galaxy Nexus phone will be the first device to deploy it.