Year: 2010

Google’s Android software will be Europe’s top smartphone platform next year, according to researcher IDC.

Android phones accounted for 23% of western Europe shipments in the third quarter, behind Nokia Oyj’s Symbian and Apple’s iPhone platforms, IDC analyst Francisco Jeronimo said in an interview — as reported by “Bloomberg” (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-29/android-phones-set-to-pass-nokia-s-symbian-in-europe-idc-says.html). Android is set to pass Symbian and iPhone in the region, he said, adding that it is already second to Symbian worldwide.

The Gartner research group (http://www.gartner.com) has cut its global forecast for personal computer shipments forecast for 2010 and 2011 as consumers keep a tight rein on spending and interest grows in tablet devices such as the iPad.

Tablet devices are expected to displace 10% of computer shipments by 2014, according to Gartner. The impact of tablets is already evident this year, when computer shipments are projected to total 352.4 million units, up 14.3% from last year, says the research group.