LOS ANGELES — Google’s diverse and growing army of Android devices may now be outflanking Apple in the smartphone wars, according to a technology research firm.
New York-based NPD Group said that in the first quarter of 2010, Android devices outsold iPhones to become the second-most-popular phone type sold in the quarter. It was the first time Android phones have racked up more sales than iPhone in the U.S.
This doesn’t mean Android-based phones actually outnumber iPhones. Even though Android phones sold better during one period of time, Apple is still significantly ahead of Google in the phone game.
Tech tracking firm comScore said its data from March showed Apple with a significant lead in market share, with 25 percent of smartphone users owning its iPhone units, compared with only 10 percent for Google. Still, that represented a more than 40 percent increase for Google-powered phones since January.
According to NPD’s sales data — which are based on large consumer surveys — Android-based devices accounted for 28 percent of the phones bought in the first quarter, while Apple’s domestic iPhone sales stayed relatively flat and dropped to third, with 21 percent. Research In Motion’s BlackBerry OS, with 36 percent, stayed on top.
If Android sales have indeed leapfrogged Apple’s, it may be largely due to Google’s promiscuous partnering philosophy — in short, to get its operating system onto as many phones, served by as many wireless carriers, as possible. There are now more than 30 Android-powered devices from 12 equipment manufacturers. Android devices are available from every major wireless carrier, including T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint and AT&T.
Meanwhile, Apple’s iPhone is available only via its exclusive carrier, AT&T.
The NPD report also noted that the average price of a smartphone dropped slightly from a year ago, down 3 percent to $151.
