Google’s Android is now the world’s leading smartphone operating system

We now have a new king in the smartphone market. Market data provided by Canalys shows that in the third quarter of 2010, Nokia's Symbian operating system held a 36.6% market share in the smartphone market. While this was down 8% from the third quarter of 2009, it was still enough to hold first place. Despite the launch of Symbian^3 in the fourth quarter of 2010 and aggressive pricing, Nokia lost another 5%. This was enough to dislodge it from first place in the smartphone market.

The new leader is Google's Android which had a 32.9% market share in the fourth quarter of 2010, up from 25.5% in the third quarter of 2010. 

Elsewhere, there is little movement. RIM whose BlackBerry has also been bleeding market share now at 14% from 20% in the previous year managed to hold its ground in the fourth quarter of 2010. Apple's iOS continuous to hold unto its 16% or so market share.