Android smartphone shipments are predicted to increase nine-fold this year as operators and handset manufacturers rush to support Google's mobile phone platform.
This is according to research from Strategy Analytics, which expects Android-based smartphones to out pace Apple iPhone OS handsets, which will see an adoption rate of 79% this year.
It is worth noting that this is because Android is expanding from a lower base than the iPhone, which is the market's biggest selling smartphone.
According to Neil Mawston, director at Strategy Analytics: "Android is now in a good position to become a top-tier player in smartphones over the next two to three years.”
“We forecast global Android smartphone shipments to grow an impressive 900% annually during 2009," said Tom Kang, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics, said,
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"The Android mobile operating system from Google gained early traction in the US in the second half of 2008 and it is gradually spreading its presence into Europe and Asia during 2009," said Kang.
For the full report, Global Smartphone Vendor Market Share by Region: 2008.