Google's Android operating system edged out Apple's iPhone operating system for the No. 2 spot in the U.S. consumer smart-phone market in the first quarter, as was reported by research firm NDP Group.
According to NPD, devices running Android accounted for 28 percent of the units sold to U.S. consumers in the first quarter of 2010. BlackBerry devices made by Research In Motion, which use RIM's homegrown operating system, took the top spot with 36 percent of the U.S. market. Apple's iPhone, which had been in the No. 2 spot previously, fell to third place with 21 percent of the market.
Android is an operating system that is available on several different models of phones made by different manufacturers, such as Motorola, HTC, and Samsung. Meanwhile, Apple's operating system is used only on Apple's own iPhone.
You can attribute the strong growth in Android sales to the fact that devices using Android software are now available on all major U.S. carrier networks. Verizon Wireless, in particular, has helped fuel success for the operating system. Verizon launched a major marketing campaign for devices, such as the Motorola Droid, last year. And Verizon, the largest U.S. wireless operator, has also been including Android devices in its buy-one-get-one free smart-phone promotion. T-Mobile USA also features Android phones as its flagship smart-phones, and AT&T has begun selling Android phones.
Although the iPhone is still very popular, it would be even more successful in the U.S if it was available on other carrier networks. Reports surfaced in March that the iPhone could be coming to Verizon soon. But until that happens, it appears that it will remain in third place.
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