Android phones more popular than iPhones

WASHINGTON: It looks like Android would quickly move past the iPhone in market share.

Android phones are officially more popular with new smart phone consumers than iPhones, according to figures that have just been released by Nielsen Company.

Google gives its app developers more freedom than Apple does, and the Android operating system is available from many more carriers and on many more phones than Apple's iPhone operating system, reports Discovery News.

But most importantly, Android phones cost less, with some being given away for free with a two-year contract.

In August, 32 percent of people who bought a smartphone chose one with an Android operating system. The same month, 26 percent bought Apple iPhones, just narrowly beating out Blackberrys, which nabbed 25 percent of the smartphone market.

It was the second month in a row that Android beat out the iPhone and the Blackberry, but the whole chart for the operating system on new smart phones between January and August of this year is below.

However, among people who already own a smartphone, Android phones are still the smallest kid on the block.

According to Nielsen, Blackberry still holds the dominant share with 31 percent of the market, though its lead over Apple is declining.

Twenty-eight percent of smartphone owners have Apple iPhones, and 19 percent have Android devices.