Although there are five names on the list of smartphone makers, most eyes are on just two: Apple and Google. While Apple retains its second-place position with 25.4 percent of the market, the Cupertino, Calif. company’s share fell 1 percent between February and May, according to comScore. Meanwhile, Android-based handsets grew from 9 percent of the smartphone market to 13 percent over the same period, a 45 percent jump, the analysts said.
Most of Android’s growth is coming at the expense of other smartphone brands, such as RIM, Microsoft and Palm, all reporting negative growth. Microsoft’s share slipped as partners await an expected fall introduction of the Windows 7 platform. Palm also fell amid its acquisition by HP.
Apple and Google have battled back and forth with competing product releases. Apple announced selling 1.7 million iPhone 4s in the first three days of availability in June. Meanwhile, Google announced last month 160,000 Droid x handsets were activated daily, compared to 100,000 per day in May.
Although Google hopes to grab a few more RIM users by upcoming Blackberry-like products from Samsung and Motorola, the Mountain View, Calif. company still has a long hill to climb. The market-leading RIM has 41.7 percent of the smartphone market, according to comScore.
