Android claims top spot in US smartphone sales

Google's Android operating system is riding high in the US market

Android was the top selling smartphone platform in the US during the second quarter of 2010, according to a recent report from research firm NPD.

The figures place Android at the top of the US consumer market for the first time, and ahead of Apple for the second consecutive quarter.

The Google operating system claimed 33 per cent of the market, followed by RIM with 28 per cent and Apple with 22 per cent.

Motorola's Droid was the best selling Android handset during the quarter, while HTC claimed the next four spots with the Incredible, Evo, Hero and Eris handsets.

Apple logged a boost in sales after the release of the iPhone 4, and RIM is hoping to achieve the same with the recently released BlackBerry Torch.

"BlackBerry OS 6 will soon offer features that have been popular in recently launched Android handsets, such as support for capacitive touch screens and a WebKit-based browser," said Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis at NPD.

"However, the BlackBerry Torch lacks the large screen allure that has characterised the best selling Android devices at its price point, including the Droid, Incredible and EVO 4G."