The Nielsen Company reported that as of the third quarter of
2010, 28 percent of U.S. mobile subscribers now have smartphones. The most popular smartphones are BlackBerry, iPhone and Android.
The growing popularity of smartphones like Apple's iPhone, RIM's
Blackberry smartphones and a variety of Google Android-based models on the
market, has accelerated the adoption rate. Among those who acquired a
new cellphone in the past six months, 41 percent opted for a smartphone
over a standard feature phone, up from 35 percent last quarter.
In the U.S., the Apple iPhone OS has nearly caught up to the RIM
Blackberry OS, with 28 percent and 30 percent market share respectively.
Meanwhile, Google's Android OS is now at 19 percent and growing. Among
those who chose a device in the last six months, however, Android took
the lead in Q3, while RIM Blackberry and Apple iPhone are nearly
tied for second place.
While owners of Android smartphones tend to be younger than those
attracted to other operating systems - 50 percent of Android owners are
under the age of 35 - Apple has the most smartphone users under the age
of 44.
One in five smartphone owners are Latino, compared to just 9 percent of feature phone owners.
From Nielsen Wire.