Android Set to Be Most Popular in Smartphone Industry

Google’s Android operating system is spreading like wildfire throughout the growing smartphone industry.  A recent Gartner report puts the Google operating system in 4th position. This huge 9.6 percent increase leapfrogged the young operating system over the old standard Microsoft Windows mobile but still lagging behind Apple’s iPhone.

The Android system is gaining in popularity and currently is used in 10 percent of all smartphones. Android is becoming one of the most popular operating systems in the U.S. The Android phones are currently outselling iPhones and make up about 28 percent of all U.S. sales. Apple still holds the market in available apps with some 200,000 options out there. Android offers approximately 38,000 apps. However, developers prefer the openness of the Android system vs. the iPhone system. Some people in the industry believe the Android system is set to become the most popular platforms by the middle of next year.

The operating system may face some tough competition this upcoming year. Apple is getting ready to launch their 4G iPhone that has consumers buzzing about an improved camera and a higher-resolution screen. Microsoft is also getting into the action with the launch of a consumer based phone set to launch by the end of this year. Microsoft will be adding features that appeal to users like Xbox Live support and social networking apps. Symbian is unfamiliar on U.S. soil, but overseas it is very popular. The Nokia phone operating system is planning to release its 3rd version of Symbian sometime this year.