Nielsen report shows smartphone buyers flocking to Android

If you bought a smartphone in the first eight months of 2010, chances are pretty good that you picked up an Android device. The Nielsen Co. reported today that roughly one in three (32 percent) of smartphones purchased from January to August were powered by Android. In the same time period, Apple's iOS and BlackBerry's RIM platform were virtually tied for second with 25 percent and 26 percent, respectively.

Although Nielsen doesn't explain why Android did so well, I have my hunches. It most likely has to do with "superphones" like the Galaxy S series and the endless onslaught of HTC devices (Droid Incredible, Evo 4G, MyTouch 3G Slide) from the top carriers. Indeed, it feels as if we get a new Android phone every week.

Nielsen's data also published a chart showing total market share among all smartphone owners from January to August. Not surprisingly, BlackBerry is still the overall dominant platform at 31 percent of the market. Apple comes in second with a declining 28 percent, and Android continues to shoot skyward with 19 percent.

It will be interesting to see how this report looks six months from now. Though Android will continue to launch new devices, BlackBerry has a new OS ready for a host of phones. Apple, on the other hand, is likely nine months from another handset.

Look for Android's numbers to continue climbing through the end of the year as we get new designs for the G2, MyTouch, and a trio of Motorola phones from AT&T.