Osprey Flyer: USA Smartphone Sales in Q3 2010 (Charts) *Market Share: Google Android top OS, Apple iPhone top smartphone*

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Google Android was top OS in Q3 2010 USA consumer smartphone sales

USA Consumer Smartphone Sales by OS in Q3 2010

The NPD Group is reporting Google Android was 44% of the Q3 2010 market share of USA consumer smartphone sales, up from 33% in Q2 2010. Apple iOS was second at 23%, up from 22%. These gains were at the expense of Research in Motion and Other (Microsoft in particular).

The NPD Group Press Release

iPhone 4 was the top-selling mobile phone in the third quarter; RIM falls to third place among operating systems

The NPD Group: Android Extends its Smartphone Market Share in the Third Quarter of 2010

PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, November 1, 2010 - Thanks to continued high-profile handset introductions, the Android smartphone operating system (OS) significantly grew its lead in the U.S. consumer smartphone market in the third quarter (Q3). According to The NPD Group, a leading market research company, Android's OS was installed in 44 percent of all smartphones purchased in Q3, an increase of 11 percentage points since Q2; Apple iOS held relatively steady versus last quarter, rising one percentage point to 23 percent; RIM OS, fell to third position, declining from 28 percent to 22 percent.

"Much of Android's quarterly share growth came at the expense of RIM, rather than Apple," said Ross Rubin, executive director of industry analysis for NPD. "The HTC EVO 4G, Motorola Droid X, and other new high-end Android devices have been gaining momentum at carriers that traditionally have been strong RIM distributors, and the recent introduction of the BlackBerry Torch has done little to stem the tide."

According to NPD's Mobile Phone Track, when OS unit share for the third quarter of 2010 is compared to the third quarter of 2009, the declines among Android competitors were as follows: RIM OS share declined by 53 percent; Apple iOS share declined 21 percent. "There has not been much share left to grab from the other operating systems," said Rubin. "The iPhone has held its own at AT&T, but Apple faces challenges in further expanding its domestic market share, while still retaining exclusivity."

Based on U.S. consumer purchases of mobile phones in Q3, four of the top five handset models were smartphones, as follows:

1.Apple iPhone 4 (smartphone)

2.BlackBerry Curve 8500 series (smartphone)

3.LG Cosmos (messaging phone)

4.Motorola Droid X (smartphone)

5.HTC EVO 4G (smartphone)

Smartphone Sales Q3 2010 (Chart)

Below is a chart of USA consumer smartphone sales by OS in the third quarter ending September 30, 2010.