Android Now Most Popular OS in UK

The number of Android users in the UK has now surpassed the number of iPhone users.

It’s been four long years since the first iPhone launched in 2007, and the Apple smartphone has certainly come a long way. Comparing that 2007 iPhone, which didn’t even have an App Store, to the iPhone 4 available today provides a stark contrast. The same can be said of Google’s Android OS, which also launched in 2007. Because while the iPhone was the device that launched a thousand smartphones, it was Android’s widespread availability and openness that made the smartphone market so explosive.

This week in particular marks a special week in Android’s existence: The Google OS has finally been crowned smartphone king in the UK. ITProPortal cites research conducted by YouGov in reporting that Android now accounts for 26 percent of UK mobile users, while iPhone users fall just short with 23 percent. Users of the more business friendly BlackBerry brand account for 14 percent of the mobile market. Symbian and Windows devices trailed with 6 and 5 percent respectively.

The iPhone OS, iOS, is now on version 4.3.1, while most Android uses are waiting for the latest iteration, Gingebread (2.3) to arrive. Google also has a version of Android, Android 3.0, that is optimised for tablets.