In a welcome news for Android fans, Google's smartphone OS has surpassed Apple's iPhone in total US market share. While apple secured a 21% market share in the first quarter of 2010, Android surged to 28%. RIM's BlackBerry, with 36% sales, continued to be the market leader, with Apple's iPhone and Android vying for the second slot, according to the NPD Group.

However, despite the fact that Android had a great quarter, it still lags behind RIM, Apple and even Windows Mobile for total market share, according to recent statistics from ComScore. Google's operating system had 9% of the market as of February 2010, compared with the iPhone's 25.4%, thus leaving Android behind for a while, if at all it catches Apple.

Still, Android's growth is noteworthy. Not only did Android outperform the iPhone, but it's the only smartphone OS whose unit share witnessed an increase as compared to the previous quarter. The iPhone, meanwhile, is flat, while Windows Mobile, BlackBerry and WebOS quarterly sales share is in decline. And in case the trend continued, Android would catch up to its competitors for total market share in some time.

Also, Android's growth could probably be attributed to aggressive sales and marketing done by services provided Verizon Wireless during the quarter.