“The latest smartphone sales figures from NPD Group show
Google’s Linux-based Android OS blowing the iPhone and Windows
Mobile clean out of the water. The market research company’s
first-quarter 2010 figures reveal that although Research in
Motion’s (RIM’s) OS still commands 36 percent of the market,
Android grabbed second place with 28 percent, relegating Apple into
a humiliating third place with just 21 percent. Microsoft? It’s
nowhere to be seen.“You can argue that Android sales have been artificially
inflated by two-for-one offers and other carrier promotions and
that some potential iPhone buyers are waiting for the next model,
which is expected some time in the summer. Although Windows Mobile
is now a dead duck OS, Windows Phone 7 will not be available for
months, so it’s not surprising Microsoft’s mobile OS sales are so
low. But these arguments miss the point. Android is popular because
there are plenty of models to choose from right now, at many
different price points — including free with the purchase of
another handset. Thus, in the mobile market — unlike on the
desktop — a Linux OS is now outselling both Apple’s and
Microsoft’s OS offerings.”