A little over two years after it launched, Google’s Android operating system has overtaken Symbian as the world’s dominant smartphone operating system by volume of sales. That’s according to analyst firmCanalys, at least.
As reported byReuters today, the company says that in the last quarter of 2010, 32.9 million Android phones were sold in the last quarter, compared to 31 million Symbian handsets.
Last summer, Symbian was still a healthy wayaheadof its little green robot rival, although a report from Chinese trade publication DigitimespredictedAndroid’s rise to the top back in November, the same month that Google’s OSsurpassedSymbian in Asia.
Sadly, Canalys’ full report doesn’t apear to be published anywhere yet, but if it proves to be true it won’t be a surprise. To be fair, Android’s rise to the top was virtually inevitable. Symbian has gradually fallen out of favour, with manufacturers dropping the OS that has failed to keep pace with iOS and Android in terms of marketing and interface. Even in its latest Symbian 3 form, it justfeels outdated when placed next to two operating systems that are far less encumbered by their legacy as Symbian is.
Story byMartin SFP Bryant
Martin SFP Bryant is the founder of UK startup newsletter PreSeed Now and technology and media consultancy Big Revolution. He was previously(show all)Martin SFP Bryant is the founder of UK startup newsletterPreSeed Nowand technology and media consultancyBig Revolution. He was previously Editor-in-Chief at TNW.
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