Google's Android operating system has surged to the number two spot in market share among mobile systems in the U.S., ahead of Apple's iPhone and behind only Research in Motion's BlackBerry. That's according to figures released Monday by NPD Group.
BlackBerry has 36 percent of the market, Android 28 percent and iPhone 21 percent. Counting by carriers, AT&T (32 percent) narrowly edged out Verizon (30 percent), with T-Mobile and Sprint taking the third and fourth spots.
“As in the past, carrier distribution and promotion have played a crucial role in determining smartphone market share,” Ross Rubin, executive director of industry analysis for NPD, said as part of the release. “In order to compete with the iPhone, Verizon Wireless has expanded its buy-one-get-one offer beyond RIM devices to now include all of their smartphones.”
