ComScore: Samsung, Android Tops Among Cell Users

By Joseph Palenchar On Nov 21 2011 - 6:01am

RESTON, VA. — Samsung remained the top cellphone brand used by U.S. cellular subscribers ages 13 and older in the three-month period ending September, and the Android operating system continued to gain share among smartphone users during that time, ComScore found.

In surveying more than 30,000 subscribers during the three-month period, ComScore determined that Samsung was the top cellphone brand in use with 25.3 percent market share Google’s Android OS was tops in smartphone OS share at 44.8 percent.

During the three-month period, 234 million Americans age 13 and older used mobile devices, the survey of online users found. With Samsung taking top brand share among those users, LG followed, with 20.6 percent share, and Motorola placed third at 13.8 percent. Apple’s share rose sequentially from the prior three-month period, rising to 10.2 percent from 8.9 percent. Research In Motion’s (RIM) share slipped sequentially from 7.9 percent to 7.1 percent.

In the smartphone market, ComScore found that 87.4 million people ages 13 and older were using a smartphone, representing 37.4 percent of all cellphone users. The number of smartphone users rose 12 percent from the preceding three-month period.

The Android OS ranked as the top smartphone platform, with 44.8 percent market share among smartphone users, up 4.6 percentage points from the previous three-month period. Apple took second place, increasing its share by 0.8 percentage points to account for 27.4 percent of smartphones in use. RIM came in third, its share down 4.6 percentage points from the preceding three months. Microsoft came in fourth and Symbian ranked fifth

ComScore found that 71.1 percent of U.S. subscribers used text messaging on their mobile device, up 1.5 percentage points from the preceding three months. Browsers were used by 42.9 percent of subscribers, up 2.8 percentage points, while downloaded applications were used by 42.5 percent, up by 3 percentage points.

Those accessing social-networking sites or blogs rose to 31.5 percent of all subscribers. A total of 28.8 percent of cellphone users played games on their phones, while 20.9 percent of subscribers listened to music on their phones.