Game of Phones: Android Set to Rule the Smart Phone Kingdom

An interesting article based on IDC research shows that currently Android is the biggest smart phone platform, having taken the crown from Nokia’s ageing Symbia, who wore it in 2010.  It seems that the battle is now not for the top spot, but who gets to be the Hand of the Liege (2nd place); Apple, Microsoft or RIM/Blackberry?

Even so, battles are fierce for second place. In its June forecast, IDC said it expects RIM’s BlackBerry to slip in share this year to 14%, while Apple’s iOS will grow to 18%, just behind Symbian. Both Apple and RIM make their own OSes and manufacture their own devices, unlike Android, which was developed by Google for use by other smartphone makers.

Windows Phone (and the older Windows Mobile) will lurk behind the others with less than 4% share in 2011. Still, Windows Phone — which Nokia and other manufacturers plan to use — is expected to reach a 20% share in 2015, according to IDC. By then, Nokia will have replaced its Symbian OS with Windows. The Symbian OS dominated smartphones with 36% of the market in 2010.

Forsooth, Shall I back Apple, RIM or Microsoft, Now Android is King?