SAN FRANCISCO - GOOGLE Inc's Android software will become the
world's second most popular operating system for cell phones this
year, leapfrogging rival offerings from Microsoft Corp, Research in
Motion and Apple Inc, according to a new report.
By 2014 Android will account for nearly 30 per cent of all cell
phone operating system sales, according to research firm Gartner,
putting it in position to challenge Nokia Corp's Symbian software,
which has reigned as the top mobile operating system for years.
Symbian will have a 30.2 per cent share of the global market in
2014, according to Gartner, compared to Android's 29.6 per
cent.
Gartner said it expects a variety of less-expensive Android
devices shipping in the second half of 2010 to boost Android's
growth, allowing Android to grab the No. 2 worldwide rank nearly
two years sooner than the firm had initially expected.
The market for mobile phone software has become a prime
battleground for technology companies, as consumers increasingly
use their phones to access the Internet, listen to digital music
and play video games.
Apple jump-started the market for high-end smartphones with the
launch of its iPhone in 2007. For Google, the world's No. 1
Internet search engine, making the transition to mobile phones is
key as it seeks to maintain and expand its nearly US$24 billion
(S$32.2 billion) online advertising business. -- REUTERS
