Android U.S. growth outpaces iPhone in Q2

Handsets running Google’s Android OS accounted for a greater share of new smartphone subscribers in the second quarter of 2010 in the U.S. than did iPhones, according to the latest data from Nielsen. BlackBerry devices accounted for the most new subscribers in the U.S. during Q2, representing 33% of the market—a 3% drop from Q1—followed by Android handsets, which jumped from 17% in Q1 to 27% in Q2, enough to drop Apple into third place with 23%, down 4% from Q1. Apple’s share of overall smartphone subscribers remained steady with 28% between Q1 and Q2, placing it in second place behind BlackBerry with 35% but well ahead of Android’s 13% share. Notably, the iPhone was also the “most desired” phone amongst Android, iPhone, and BlackBerry users; 89% of current iPhone owners stated that they wanted to purchase another iPhone as their next handset, while 29% of BlackBerry owners and 21% of Android owners also want an iPhone as their next phone.