In Australia, Android smartphones outsold Apple’s iPhone 5 during the Christmas rush

Smartphones running Google’s Android operating system outsold Apple’s iPhone 5 during the quarter leading up to Christmas, according to new figures.

The smartphone market research figures, compiled by Kantar WorldCom, reveal that Android ran on 55.8% of smartphones sold during the 12 weeks ending December 23, ahead of iOS, used on Apple’s iPhone 5, at 38.4%

Meanwhile, despite the release of Nokia’s Windows 8-based Lumia 920 and 820 smartphones amid heavy advertising, Windows was only able to claim 2.8% of Australian smartphone sales.

Compared to the same period last year, iOS sales fell from 41.8%, Android grew from 48.1%, Windows grew from 1.9% and Symbian fell from 5.9% to 1.5%.