Smartphones: Google Android trumps Apple iOS,Windows edges up

The other platforms remained far behind,but Windows Phone posted the largest year-over-year and moved past BlackBerry into third place,IDC said.

IDC said Windows phones accounted for 3.2 percent of the market,after a 133 percent rise in sales,to 2.9 percent for Blackberry.

Nokia was largely responsible for driving Windows Phone sales,accounting for 79 percent of the smartphones using the Microsoft platform.

8220;Windows Phone claiming the third spot is a first and helps validate the direction taken by Microsoft and key partner Nokia,8221; said IDC8217;s Kevin Restivo.

8220;Given the relatively low volume generated,the Windows Phone camp will need to show further gains to solidify its status as an alternative to Android or iOS.8221;

IDC8217;s Ramon Llamas said the survey shows some interest in alternative platforms despite the dominance of Android and Apple.

8220;Android and iOS accounted for more than the lion8217;s share of smartphones in the first quarter,but a closer examination of the other platforms reveals turnaround and demand for alternatives,8221; Llamas said.

A survey by the research firm Gartner earlier this week had similar results,but showed Blackberry barely ahead of Windows.