Google Android sales overtook Nokia’s Symbian to become the global leader in smartphone software market in the last quarter of 2010.
According to Research firm Canalys, in the fourth quarter last year, while 32.9 million Android-equipped phones were sold globally, Nokia’s Symbian sales reached 31 million.
Apple and Nokia make their own phone hardware, but Google does not. It offers its Android operating system free to other phone makers who then adapt it to suit their devices. This has resulted in Android becoming the standard software for many phone makers.
According to Strategy Analytics, Google also gained on Apple in tablet computers. While its market share rose to 22%, Apple’s share fell to 75% from 95% in the fourth quarter.
Outgoing Chief Executive Eric Schmidt had said that all of Google’s strategic initiatives for 2011 revolve around mobile.
