ComScore reports significant gains for Google's Android

In a report on the mobile market, entitled Android: Crashing the Smartphone Party,  Comscore found that 'consumer awareness of Google's Android is growing rapidly, due in large part to the Verizon Droid ad campaign.'

Comscore's survey of around 2,300 US consumers found that of 'those American consumers in the market for a smartphone, 17% are considering the purchase of an Android-supported device in the next three months.' This compared to 20%, who said they plan to snap up a new iPhone.

The numbers were way up on an earlier Comscore report conducted in August, which only found 7% of prospective smartphone purchasers intended to buy an Android handset, with 21% saying they intended to buy an iPhone.

'With handsets on multiple carriers, from multiple manufacturers, and numerous Android device models expected to be in the U.S. market by January, the Android platform is rapidly shaking up the smartphone market,' said Mark Donovan, comScore senior VP of mobile. 'While iPhone continues to set the bar with its App Store and passionate user base, and RIM remains the leader among the business set, Android is clearly gaining momentum among developers and consumers.'

However, Comscore noted that Android still had a relatively small share of the US smartphone market, just 3.5% in October, although that was double what it enjoyed in October 2008.

While the Android platform has begun to take off in the US, European sales have been rather slow, so far, according to IDC.

'[European] consumers recognise the Google brand, but still do not understand what Android is. The lack of devices available didn't help to raise awareness, though this is expected to change, with more handsets from LG, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, and other vendors hitting the market soon,' said IDC.