Google's Android operating system is a force to be reckoned with in the global market for smartphones.
The Android OS represented 52.5 percent of smartphone sales to end users in the third quarter, up from 25.3 percent in the year-ago period, Gartner reported Tuesday.
BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion wasn't so fortunate: Its worldwide share declined year over year from 15.4 percent to 11 percent. Meanwhile, iOS – Apple's operating system for the iPhone – saw its share fall slightly from 16.6 percent to 15 percent.
"Android benefited from more mass-market offerings, a weaker competitive environment and the lack of exciting new products on alternative operating systems such as Windows Phone 7 and RIM," said Roberta Cozza, principal research analysts at Gartner, in a statement. "Apple's iOS market share suffered from delayed purchases as consumers waited for the new iPhone. Continued pressure is impacting RIM's performance, and its smartphone share reached its lowest point so far in the U.S. market, where it dropped to 10 percent."
Gartner, the market research and consulting giant, also reported that Samsung became the biggest smartphone manufacturer worldwide as sales to end-users tripled year over year to reach 24 million.
Nokia, however, still held onto its lead as the No. 1 vendor based on worldwide mobile device sales with 23.9 percent share ahead of Samsung (17.8 percent). The second quarter was a low point for the Finland-based handset maker, Gartner said, and Nokia is turning itself around. "Heavy marketing from both Nokia and Microsoft to push the new Lumia devices should bring more improvement in the fourth quarter of 2011," Gartner noted. "However, a true turnaround won't take place until the second half of 2012."
