30/09/2011

Android devices dominate the UK smartphone market at present, with Apple down in third behind Blackberry, new research has shown.

According to figures from Kantar Worldpanel, Google's platform represented 47.1 per cent of the market in Britain in the 12 weeks up to August this year.

RIM's BlackBerry handsets accounted for 21.5 per cent and Apple's iPhones had 20.8 per cent.

The report went on to point out that 41 per cent of the population now own a smartphone and buyers are becoming increasingly swayed by the platform when making their selection.

Dominic Sunnebo, global consumer insight director at the firm, said: 'We are now seeing that the type of software on a phone is influencing what handset a person buys. This has provided key opportunities for previously little-known manufacturers such as HTC and ZTE, who use popular operating systems.

'For example, 25 per cent of consumers who purchased a ZTE smartphone claimed they did so because of the Android operating system.'

Chinese manufacturer Huawei unveiled its Honor Android device earlier this week, claiming it can last three days without recharging.