Google Investor: Google Android Now Top Global Smartphone Platform (Video, Charts) *Worldwide market share 32.9% in Q4 2010*

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Google Android Leads Nokia Symbian and Apple iOS in Device Shipments for Q4 2010

Google Android Now Top Global Smartphone Platform

Canalys announced today that the Google Android smartphone OS now has the largest global market share with 33.3 million devices shipped in the fourth quarter of 2010. The total devices shipped worldwide in Q4 2010 was 101.2 million. Google Android has now surpassed the Nokia Symbian platform, which shipped 31.0 million. The Apple iOS platform was third with 16.2 million, followed by RIM 14.6 million, Microsoft 3.7 million, and finally "Others" at 3.0 million. The Google Android smartphone platform was launched in October 2008. The Google Android data also includes the OMS and Tapas versions.

Financial News Online "Android Overtakes Symbian as No. 1 Smartphone OS (GOOG, NOK) " Research firm Canalys announced Monday that Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG) Android has now beat out Nokia's (NYSE: NOK) Symbian as the top smartphone operating system. The fourth quarter of 2010 saw global sales of 32.9 million handsets running on a Google Platform, which includes Android, OMS and Tapas, compared with the 31 million Symbians shipped. Thanks to Android's impressive 615% year-over-year sales growth, its market share has grown from 8.4% to 32.5% while Symbian's market share has dropped from 44.4% to 30.6%. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) came in third with 16% of the smartphone market, and Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) rounded out the top 5 with 14% and 3%, respectively. Android's claim as the best-selling OS came earlier than expected, according to Canalys analyst Pete Cunningham, but was aided by strong sales on a number of vendor fronts, including LG, Samsung, Acer and HTC, with HTC and Samsung accounting for nearly 45% of Android shipments. Although Nokia went through a number of management moves in late 2010 and its N8 smartphone saw multiple delays on its way to market, the company still remains the largest handset maker in the world.

Dramatic Change from Fourth Quarter 2009

The year on year (YoY) change in market share from the fourth quarter 2009 to the fourth quarter 2010 has been dramatic. Google has increased market share from 9% to 33%. Apple has held steady at 16%. Nokia lost market share from 45% to 31%. Research in Motion lost market share from 20% to 14%. Microsoft has lost market share from 7% to 3%. "Other" remained at 3%.

About Canalys

Canalys specialises in delivering high quality market data, analysis and advice to the world’s leading technology vendors. It is recognised as a key provider of continuous advisory services and confidential custom projects for marketing managers and strategists within blue-chip IT, telecoms, navigation and consumer electronics companies. It has unrivalled expertise in European routes to market for all kinds of high technology products and services in the consumer, SMB and large enterprise segments, and provides worldwide market data and trends analysis.

About Google

Google describes itself in press releases as, "Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google's targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia."

Google's Mission Statement: "Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. The first step toward fulfilling that mission came when our founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, working out of a Stanford University dorm room, developed a new approach to online search that quickly spread to information seekers around the globe. Google is now widely recognized as the world's largest search engine -- a free service whose utility and ease of use have made it one of the world's best-known brands almost entirely through word of mouth from satisfied users."

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