Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) is not the number 1 mobile operating system used in smartphones in the US. It is not number 2. Google is now in third place with only 19.6% of the mobile platform market in August, according to comScore.

In the first spot is Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) which makes the Blackberry. RIM has a market share of 36.7%. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is in second place with a 24.2% share.

Although RIM has the lead, it is eroding sharply down from 41.7% in May. Android’s share in May was 13%, so its growth is nothing short of remarkable.

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), despite impressions to the contrary, is still a force is the US  market where its share is 10.9%, but that share is falling.

The study confirms the growth of Android but contradicts other research that shows the operating system has moved ahead of Apple and RIM. Nielsen research showed that “Nearly one in three who bought a smartphone in the past six months snapped up an Android handset.”

It is still a puzzle to many analysts how Google will make money on Android, which is an open source product. Some speculate that Android will help improve Google’s share of the mobile search or mobile advertising markers. However, it is likely to command those positions as people move from PC-based search. Brand loyalty is likely to prevail because of the number of consumers who favor the Google search capabilities, no matter what the platform.

Among manufactures, Samsung-made had 23.6% of the use mobile subscriber base, followed by LG at 21.2%, and Motorola at 18.8%. Smartphones do not have high overall share because simpler handsets still dominate overall sales.

Douglas A. McIntyre

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