Figures for January suggest the virtual stalemate that gripped the market at the end of 2010 is over, with Android taking top spot with a 29 percent share.
Second position is tied, however, with both iOS and BlackBerry holding 27 percent of the market.
Manufacturing success
However, while Google would appear to be topping the tree, Nielsen argues both Apple and RIM's positions as OEMs as well as platform holders puts them in a stronger position in the longterm.
"An analysis by manufacturer shows RIM and Apple to be the winners compared to other device makers since they are the only ones creating and selling smartphones with their respective operating systems," the firm says in a blog post.
"HTC follows with 12 percent of consumer smartphone owners having an HTC Android device and 7 percent owning an HTC device running a Microsoft OS.
"10 percent of consumer smartphone owners had a Motorola Android device and one percent owned a Motorola device running a Microsoft OS."
Though not detailed in the blog post itself, FierceMobile claims Microsoft now holds 10 percent of the smartphone OS market in total Windows Phone 7 finally making some ground on its competitors while HP's webOS has a 4 percent share and Symbian on 2 percent.
[source: Nielsen]
