Android Replaces Symbian as Smartphone Leader

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Google’s upstart Android operating system has toppled Symbian, as the most-used smartphone operating system. Symbian, created by cell phone giant Nokia, held the position for a decade. Nearly 33 million Android-powered smartphones sold during the previous quarter – seven times that of a year ago. Meanwhile, Symbian sales totaled 31 million during the last three-month financial period of 2010.

Apple placed third in the smartphone rankings, selling 16.2 million iPhones during the same period, compared to 8.7 million the previous year, according to research firm Canalys. The growth was overshadowed by Android’s gargantuan 615.1 percent increase over 2009.


Additionally, Apple’s fourth-quarter share of the smartphone market fell to 16 percent of smartphone sales, down from 16.3 percent a year ago. Microsoft has the only negative growth rate, its market share falling 20.3 percent in the fourth quarter compared to the previous year. The analysts attribute the drop in part to Windows Phone 7 sales starting late in the fourth quarter.

Only Apple, Nokia and BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion are seen as resisting the industry’s move to Android. That number could fall to just two if experts correctly predict Nokia could introduce Android-powered smartphones as part of the company’s turnaround. New Nokia CEO Stephen Elop said he will introduce the new strategy February 11.

Smartphone sales overall grew 89 percent compared to a year ago, with a total of 101.2 million handsets. Experts predict smartphones could soon surpass computers as the prime method for going online.

[Reuters, Business Insider]

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