Android leads market ahead of Apple

According to research data for Q1 2011,  Android is leading the smart phone market for the second quarter running. Google's OS has 35.7 million units shipped in Q1 2011 increasing its market share to 35%.

Nokia  remains numero-uno in 28 countries. Despite the lukewarm success of their latest Symbian smartphones, the adoption of Windows Phone 7 and the death of MeeGo, Nokia has grown 79% in China with 8.9 million units shipped. However, they has lost the global number one spot to Android.

 Android also saw a 200% growth in the largest smartphone market - USA, where it dominated with 49% market share. Apple's share grew to 31%, a growth of over 150% year-on-year. This growth can be credited significantly to the launch of the iPhone 4 on the Verizon Wireless network, which helped boost sales.

 BlackBerry maker RIM, however, saw a dip in its market share in Q1 2011. Hopefully, the arrival of the PlayBook tablet and a refreshed smartphone lineup will help BlackBerry back on its feet.

 The data comes from Canalys, a research organisation with a focus on technology vendors.

 Quality products provided by vendors supported Androids success. "HTC, Samsung, LG, Motorola and Sony Ericsson drove Android shipments in the first quarter, with each vendor shipping well over 3 million devices," said Peter Cunningham, principal analyst, Canalys. "Samsung also shipped nearly 3.5 million bada operating system-based smart phones, outperforming total shipments of Windows Phone devices by more than a million units."

 "Samsung's own operating system development, combined with the branding and investment in its Wave smart phones at mid-tier prices, has led to good uptake in developed markets, such as France, the UK and Germany", continued Cunningham. "This achievement shows that there is still room for multiple operating systems, and that vendors can benefit from maintaining control of device development to hit the right markets and price points."

 Canalys has also confirmed that Asia Pacific is the largest growing smartphone market with a year-on-year growth of 93%. 37.3 million units were shipped, making Asia Pacific a larger market than Europe, the Middle East and Africa for the first time since 2007. The biggest growth has come from India, China and South Korea.