4 out of 5 smartphones use Android: Survey

Four out of five smartphones operate on Google's Android, a new survey has revealed.

The survey by IDC found that Android's market share rose to 81% from last year's 74.9%, extending its lead over Apple's iOS.

According to News24, the survey also noted that Microsoft's Windows Phone showed strong gains and emerged as the number three smartphone platform with a market share of 3.6 percent, up from 2 percent last year.

Windows Phone sales grew 156 percent, with more than 90 percent made by Microsoft-acquired Nokia.

IDC analyst Ramon Llamas said that Android and Windows Phone continued to make significant strides in the third quarter, adding that, despite their differences in market share, they both have one important factor behind their success: price.

The report said that Apple's market share was likely affected by weak sales ahead of the introduction of two new iPhone models in September, at the end of the quarter but with sale of over nine million of the new devices, a strong fourth quarter is expected.