Apple’s iPhone used to be the upstart, sneaking into IT organizations as executives demanded support and integration with corporate email, and vendors have come through with technology to support it. But now IT shops and IT solution providers may find themselves compelled to add support for another upstart – smartphones based on Google’s Android operating system.
A new report from market research organization The NPD Group says Android moved past Apple to take the number-two position among smartphone operating systems in the first quarter of 2010, based on unit sales to consumers. The Blackberry still rules, however, with RIM’s OS commanding 36 percent of sales. Android got 28 percent and Apple’s iPhone. OS got 21 percent.
NPD said that strong sales of the Droid, Droid Eris, and Blackberry Curve via carrier promotions helped keep Verizon Wireless’s smartphone sales on par with AT&T’s in the first quarter.
“Recent previews of BlackBerry 6, the recently announced acquisition of Palm by HP, and the pending release of Windows Phone 7 demonstrates the industry’s willingness to make investments to address consumer demand for smartphones and other mobile devices,” said Ross Rubin, executive director of industry analysis for NPD, in a statement. “Carriers continue to offer attractive pricing for devices, but will need to present other data-plan options to attract more customers in the future.”