Apple iOS logs 60 per cent 'reach' advantage over Android

Apple's iOS platform is reaching a far larger combined user base than Google's Android, according to new figures from comScore.

The research firm said in a recent report that iOS is installed on 37.9 million devices in the US, compared to 23.8 million for Android.

Apple's huge reach is down to the growth of the iPhone, and the adoption of the iPad and iPod Touch models.

The report suggests that Apple is extending the reach of iOS by selling the media player and tablet lines to users of non-Apple smartphones.

ComScore noted that BlackBerry is the most popular handset with iPad owners. RIM's handsets are used by 28.9 per cent of iPad owners, compared to 25.2 per cent for the iPhone.

Mark Donovan, comScore's senior vice president of mobile, explained that the appeal of iOS extends beyond brand loyalty or interest in just one Apple device.

"It is frequently assumed that the Apple user base is composed of dedicated Apple 'fanboys', but there is not a tremendous amount of overlapping mobile device access among these users," he said.

"This, of course, has significant implications for the developer community as they consider the market potential in developing applications for different mobile platforms."

The comScore report comes as iOS and Android continue to jockey for market share and attention. Mobile phone advertising firm inMobi said earlier this month that Android had overtaken iOS in its monthly ad impression metrics.