Nielsen: Android Takes Top Spot in U.S. Smartphone Sales

Ryan Kim:

Nielsen said among recent acquirers of smartphones in the last six months through August, Android was the top platform in the U.S. with 32 percent of new purchases, followed by the iPhone and Research In Motion’s Blackberry platform, tied at about 25 percent.

When looking at overall market share, RIM remains on top with 31 percent, trailed by the iPhone at 28 percent and Android at 19 percent. But the race continues to tighten with RIM maintaining a slide from 37 percent in February. The iPhone has remained largely stable during that period, while Android market share is up from 8 percent in February.

The only thing that could change this trend is getting the iPhone on other carriers in the U.S. The numbers are very different in Europe, where the iPhone is available on multiple carriers in most countries.

★ Tuesday, 5 October 2010