Google's Android software in 3 out of 4 smartphones

Three out of four smartphones sold in the third quarter Google Inc's Android operating system  introduced mobile, since the gap between Google and Apple Inc expanded further based phones, according to a new research report.

Shipments of Android-based smartphones made by Samsung, HTC and other manufacturers nearly doubled in the third quarter to 136 million units, according to IDC industry. Strong sales increased share of Android in the smartphone market worldwide 75 percent, from 57.5 percent in the same period last year.

Apple's share of the market rose to 14.9 percent in the third quarter from 13.8 percent a year earlier. Apple IPhone company uses the iOS mobile software.

While most Android pulled ahead of Apple's iOS, their gains have come mainly at the expense of rival operating systems Symbian and Blackberry, with shipments of phones that use these systems significant decrease.

IDC analyst Kevin Restivo said about Android "tie-ins" to Google wide range of online services, including online search and maps, as an important asset that has helped Android grow.

"Google has a thriving, multifaceted range of products. Many of its competitors, with weak tie-ins for the mobile operating system, no," Restivo said in the IDC report, which was released Thursday.

Google offers its Android operating system free to handset makers, and especially makes money from advertising online consumers to access their services on devices.

Research in Motion, Blackberry OS was 7.7 per cent share in the third quarter, compared with 9.5 percent last year.

Symbian, which had 14.6 percent share a year ago, had a share of 4.1 percent in the third quarter. Smartphone maker Nokia Symbian software continues to offer some of their phones, but the company has shifted largely to Microsoft Corp. software

Mobile versions of Microsoft software accounted for 3.6 percent of the smartphone market in the third quarter. However, IDC said the recent release of the new Microsoft operating system Phone 8 could improve its position in the fast growing market.