Android blows past iOS in newest Nielsen numbers

It would seem now the war of words between Google Inc. (GOOG) and Apple Inc. (AAPL) over which company is activating the most devices daily has come to an end with Android the victor, Google and its hardware partners are looking to put some distance between themselves and second place.
In the latest numbers released by consumer research company The Nielsen Co., Android has stormed the top spot, taking more than one-third of overall market share – and even managing to dethrone the iPhone as the most lusted-after gadget – traditionally Apple’s strong suit.
According to the Nielsen numbers – for the first quarter of 2011 – Android accounts for 37% of the overall U.S. smartphone market, followed by iOS with 27% and Research In Motion Ltd.’s (RIM) BlackBerry OS with 22%. There is good news for Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) in these results too – Windows Phone 7 (and its older counterparts) account for 10% of the market, a not-unimpressive feat given the new operating system’s apparent slow uptake.
Android managed to account for a full 50% of those who had recently purchased a handset, with iOS only registering half that total. Confirming its ongoing obsolescence, Symbian nabbed only 1% of handset sales in the period.
In the “Next desired operating system” section – aka the swimsuit round – Android was the only OS to gain share since the previous quarter, growing from 26% to 31%. iOS dropped from 33% to 30%, while BlackBerry dwindled to just 11%. The only operating system showing no change was Symbian, which stayed level, at 0%.
Interestingly the “Not sures” grew from 18% to 20% – could it be the increasing presence of Windows Phone 7 and Hewlett-Packard Co.’s (HPQ) continual nudging of WebOS into the mainstream is confusing potential customers? With six players in the smartphone world, twice as many as on PCs (if we’re being generous and counting Linux), that could well be the case. But those who have made their minds up seem to be gravitating toward Google’s little green robot.