Android pulling ahead of iOS in US, tops Millennial's network with 46% share

Though even a cursory glance at Millennial Media's recent reports suggested this day was coming, Android has become the largest smartphone OS on the ad network for the first time in its history.

It marks continued growth for Google's OS on Millennial – which reaches 8 out of 10 mobile users in the US – having eaten into Apple's previous market leading share of 70 percent over the course of the last year.

Gaining Google

Android now holds a 46 percent share, up 8 percent from Millennial's figures for November, with iOS down 6 percent to a 32 percent share.

In total, Android ad requests have grown 141 percent since Q3 2010, having shot up by 3,130 percent since January 2010.

Though the smartphone market as a whole continues to grow – now making up 60 percent of all impressions on Millennial – Apple's growth pales in comparison to Android's, with ad requests having increased by 14 percent over the course of the last year.

Much of said growth has come from iPad, which has seen requests rise by 280 percent in the last quarter alone.

App happy

Google now has what amounts to a clean sweep on Millennial, however, with Android apps also leading the way when it comes to generating revenue – 55 percent of all revenue stemming from apps on the platform in Q4 2010, up 13 percent quarter over quarter.

But while Android is now the dominant platform in the US almost any way you look at it, Apple is still the top manufacturer on Millennial, sales of iPhone outstripping all other models on the market.

Samsung, owing to the success of Galaxy S, has cemented its position as the second largest OEM in the US for the third month running, with six handsets making the top 30.

You can read the full Mobile Mix report for December on Millennial Media's website.