The open source Google Android mobile operating system continues to pick up new United Kingdom users, enjoying a reported 350 percent growth spurt in the past quarter.
The study also indicates one in 10 smartphones owned in the UK today use Android, with the OS’s overall marketshare increasing 10.2 percent in the quarter. Furthermore, the Android-powered HTC Desire and HTC Legend smartphones remain the most popular smartphones in the country -- and other Android-powered devices are expected to compete well in upcoming quarters.
"The figures suggest an increasing number of consumers are now asking for Android handsets by name," said Megan Baldock, GfK analyst, in an interview with the Guardian. "Operating systems are no longer simply a by-product but a key selling point in their own right."
The recent launch of the Samsung Galaxy S smartphone is expected to give Android yet another boost in key markets. UK demand for smartphones has not surprisingly increased, according to analyst figures, with a jump from 55 percent up to 66.7 percent as users seek out phones that are able to run "advanced" applications.
After the launch of the Legend and Desire smartphones in the UK in April, HTC was temporarily unable to keep up with consumer demand for the products.
Gleacher and Co. analyst Mark McKechnie also believes Motorola will sell 14 million Android-powered devices by the end of the year. The phone maker has struggled in recent years but has received a strong boost from the use of Android and its popular Droid phones.
I've liked watching Android's growth in the smartphone market, with the OS able to compete with the Apple iPhone and RIM BlackBerry smartphones. It wasn't long ago when consumers focused solely on a phone's hardware, but now the OS, user experience and the available apps are major considerations for phone buyers.
