Marketing research firm Canalys is reporting that Google Android displaced Nokia’s Symbian as the world’s leading smartphone platform in Q4 2010. Android-based smartphone shipments reached 33.3 million devices compared to the 31.0 million for Symbian devices. It is the first time in 10 years that Symbian has been outsold by another OS.
Apple, RIM and Microsoft OS’s completed the global top five OS list. Despite the change in order, all recorded growth over the same quarter a year ago except Microsoft which saw a 20 percent drop (primarily as Windows Phone 7 was only released late in the year).
In the US, RIM retook first place in the manufacturer race from Apple (in large part thanks to its BlackBerry Torch). HTC maintained its third place ranking.