Google’s Android army outselling iPhone, research firm says

New York-based NPD Group said that in the first quarter of 2010, Android devices outsold iPhones to become the second-most popular phone type sold during the quarter. The was the first time Android phones have racked up more sales than iPhone in the U.S.

This doesn’t mean Android-based phones actually outnumber iPhones. Even though Android phones sold better during one period of time, Apple is likely still significantly ahead of Google in the phone game.

Tech tracking firm comScore Inc. said its data from March showed Apple with a significant lead in market share, with 25% of smart-phone users owning its iPhone units, compared with only 10% for Google. Still, that represented a more-than-40% increase for Google-powered phones since January.

According to NPD’s sales data — which are based on large consumer surveys — Android-based devices accounted for 28% of the phones bought in the first quarter, while Apple’s domestic iPhone sales stayed relatively flat and dropped to third, with 21%. Research in Motion Inc.’s BlackBerry OS, with 36%, stayed on top.

Read Full Story........................................