Google's Android in top spot for east Asia: GfK

HELSINKI, FINLAND: Google's Android overtook Nokia's Symbian in the third quarter as the most popular smartphone software in eastern Asia, research firm GfK said on Tuesday.

A growing popularity for Android-operated phones -- made by companies including Asian vendors HTC Corp and Samsung Electronics -- comes as handsets look set to overtake computers as the most used for browsing the Web.

Also read: Developers prefer using Google Android Over Apple iOS

Android software, offered free to cellphone vendors, has undergone strong growth since coming to market two years ago.

Globally Android usage ranked second in the quarter, beating Apple's iPhone and Research In Motion, but still trailing Symbian.

GfK's survey includes Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Also read: Android and its scope for developers

Ben Wood, head of research at British consultancy CCS Insight, said Google's success in Asia was not limited to the region covered by the study.

"We have noted rapid adoption of low-cost Android devices in India and China Mobile's oPhone flavour of Android is clearly gathering momentum," Wood said.