Much might be being made of Android's increasing domination in the US, but such growth pales in comparison to the surge the platform enjoyed in Western Europe last year.
According to figures published by IDC, Android is now the top mobile OS across the region, with sales growing by 1,580 percent year-on-year to finish on 7.9 million units in Q4 2010.
Smartphone success
In total, smartphones now make up 44 percent of the mobile market. Shipments rose by 99.4 percent to 25.6 million units across Q4 2010.
Android advocates HTC, Sony Ericsson and Samsung lead the way, according to IDC, pushing Google's platform into new territories.
Indeed, while iOS also increased its share by 66 percent in Q4 2010, iPhone 4 was challenged strongly in many countries thanks to the launch of Samsung's Galaxy S, which retailers readily pitched as a viable alternative.
Android acceleration
"The last quarter of 2010 clearly shows the trends for the coming years in Western Europe," said European mobile devices research manager Francisco Jeronimo.
"The Western European mobile phone market will be dominated by smartphones, and Android will be the king of the hill. Android surged from 4% to 31% market share in less than a year to become the market leader in Q4 2010 and the fastest growing operating system ever.
"IDC estimates at that Android will grow at a 37 percent compound annual growth rate between 2010 and 2015 in Western Europe, overtaking the overall market growth in the period and that of its direct competitor, the iOS from Apple."
Opening Windows
However, IDC's figures also paint a positive picture for new found partners Nokia and Microsoft.
Q4 2010 numbers suggest Windows Phone 7 is already off to something of a positive start in Western Europe according to IDC, growing Microsoft's Q4 2009 share by 18 percent.
Strong sales of Nokia's flagship and likely last Symbian handset N8 also enabled the firm to remain top dog, holding onto 33 percent of the market.
Such a figure is down from the 39 percent share Nokia enjoyed 12 months previously, however.
"The recent alliance announced between Nokia and Microsoft will create opportunities for other operating systems to exploit the transition period between Symbian and Windows Phone 7," added Jeronimo.
"Android and iOS will fiercely compete to attract all current Symbian users as they will need to migrate to another platform in the future."
[source: IDC]
Data & Research
With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.
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