Android controls half of UK smartphone market but Apple still top device seller

Nearly half the smartphones sold in the UK during 2012's third quarter run on Google's Android operating system, according to research firm ComScore.

ComScore reported that of the 30.9 million smartphones sold during the three month period ending in October, 46.6 percent ran using a version of Google Android.

The figure makes Google Android the UK's most widely used smartphone operating system, with Apple iOS falling behind with a 28 percent market share.

Former smartphone heavyweight Research in Motion took third place, with ComsCore crediting it as holding a 15.2 percent of the UK smartphone market.

The figure showcased a decrease in Apple sales momentum, with ComScore showing a mere 1.5 percent increase in the company's market share. Google by comparison recorded a 12.4 percent increase.

The stutter in Apple sales momentum comes despite a reported boom in UK smartphone sales, with ComScore claiming 62.3 percent of all phones sold in the UK are smartphones. The figure demonstrates a marked increase from the 48.1 percent figure recorded in the previous quarter.

Despite the slump, Apple remains the UK's leading handset manufacturer, with iPhone sales accounting for 28 percent of the market.

Below it Samsung took second speaking for a 24 percent market share, having seen a massive 13 percent increase in sales of its smartphones since the year began.

In third RIM was the third largest smartphone manufacturer controlling a 15.2 share, with HTC following close behind with a 15 percent share.

At the bottom end of the spectrum, Microsoft's Windows Phone OS remained the least widely used, with a modest 3.1 percent of the UK market.

The figure showcases a tiny 0.5 percent increase in the OS market share despite a marked platform push by Nokia and Microsoft.

Systematic of Windows Phones poor performance Nokia suffered an eight percent drop in its market share over the quarter, now accounting for 7.9 percent of UK smartphone sales.