Google's Android  dethroned Nokia's Symbian as the global leader in smartphone software in the last quarter of 2010, ending a reign that began with the birth of the industry a decade ago.

The reshuffle underscores how quickly Google, which offers its software to phone makers for free, has raced to the top of the smartphone market ahead of Apple's rapid ascension.

Google and Apple have revolutionised the smartphone market in recent years, sending Nokia scrambling.
   
In the fourth quarter, phonemakers sold 32.9 million Android-equipped phones globally, roughly seven times more than the year-earlier quarter, compared with Symbian's sales of 31 million, according to Research firm Canalys.   

The numbers also highlight Google's success in battling Apple, whose shipments of its popular iPhone increased to 16.2 million from 8.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Unlike Apple or Nokia, Google does not make its own phone hardware but instead offers its Android operating system free to other phone makers who can adapt it to suit their devices.   

As a result, Android has become the standard software for many phone makers. US phone maker Motorola has even managed to stage a comeback of sorts by focusing solely on Android after years of heavy market share losses.   

Hit models from Samsung Electronics, HTC and LG Electronics also helped Android in the quarter as phone companies in many regions aggressively promoted Android phones.   

In fact, only Nokia, Apple and RIM have so far resisted using Android software.

Meanwhile, Symbian suffered from the troubles of its owner and main user, Nokia.  Last week Nokia warned of a grim start to 2011 after rivals ate even more of its smartphone market share, highlighting the scale of the task its new boss has to turnaround the business.

Stephen Elop, a former executive for Microsoft Corp who took over as Nokia chief executive in September, will unveil his plan to revamp Nokia's strategy on Feb. 11. - Reuters