Report: Android shipments increase by 886%

According to research firm Canalys, worldwide shipments of smartphones running Google's open source Android mobile operating system increased by 886% in the second quarter (Q2) of 2010. The research firm says that the overall global smartphone market grew by 64%, with Nokia retaining its worldwide lead with a market share of 38%.

Nokia shipped 23.8 million smartphones – most of which were based on the open source Symbian OS – during the quarter, a growth of 41% from just a year ago. During the same period, BlackBerry manufacturer Research In Motion shipments increased by 41%. Apple also showed a strong growth in Q2 with its iPhone devices, likely helped by initial shipments of the latest iPhone 4, giving it a market share of 13% in the quarter and a growth of 61%.

Apart from the increasing popularity of Android as a smartphone OS, the growth of Android device shipments likely has a lot to do with the sheer number of handset vendors creating Android-based devices, such as HTC, Motorola, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, LG and others. Another factor is that, with a range of handsets featuring various high to low-end specs, many carriers around the world currently offer free Android-based devices with an entry-level contract, unlike Apple's iPhone.

See also:

• Android smart phone shipments grow 886% year-on-year in Q2 2010, press release from Canalys.

(crve)