Jan 4, 2011 16:51 GMT  ·  By

Google's Android mobile operating system is gaining more and more ground in its attempt to climb at the top of the US smartphone platform market, nearing Apple's iOS, which is currently the leading platform in the country. November data from The Nielsen Company, shows that Android is appealing even more to handset owners, and that it is currently the leader among recent purchasers.

40 percent of those who acquired a new smartphone during the past six months chose Google's Android OS, Nielsen reports, which clearly shows the platform's leading position on the market.

However, the Android operating system is still behind Apple iOS in terms of overall market share in the United States, the research firm shows.

While Google's platform accounts for a total number of 25.8 percent smartphones out there, Apple's software is loaded on 28.6 percent of them.

Interestingly enough, the BlackBerry platform from Canadian mobile phone maker Research in Motion is caught between the two platforms, with 26.1 percent market share.

According to Nielsen, this market share that the BlackBerry OS enjoys “puts it within the margin of error of both Apple iOS and Android.”

The research firm states that RIM's mobile operating system would be statistically tied to both the Android platform and to Apple's iOS

“In other words, RIM remains statistically tied with both Apple for first and Android for third. Apple’s clear lead over Android notwithstanding, this race might still be too close to call,” the company notes.

However, it seems that the number of customers in the United States that chose smartphones running under one of these three platforms has been increasing fast.

“This much is clear, however: All three smartphone OS leaders – Apple iOS, RIM Blackberry and Android – are benefiting from strong demand for smartphones. In November, 45 percent of recent acquirers chose a smartphone over a feature phone,” Nielsen states.

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Android is gaining more ground on the US market
Android is gaining more ground on the US market
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