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THE ANDROID operating system is the most used mobile operating system (OS) in six out of eight key countries, according to data released by Kantar Worldpanel Comtech and seen by the Guardian newspaper.

Android is doing particularly well in the UK, according to the Grauniad, as its growth is being driven by new smartphone users, as opposed to those making a jump over from a different OS.

The Guardian reports that just under three quarters of all new Android sales come from those users that previously used feature phones, as opposed to smartphones, while a low, low, low 1.4 per cent have switched ship, so to speak.

Android's loss, if it is a loss, is also the gain of Research in Motion (RIM), as apparently a massive 85 per cent of its users were previous feature phone owners.

Kantar Worldpane Comtech's global consumer insight director, Dominic Sunnebo told the Guardian that many users are concerned about losing the many apps they had paid for through the Apple store.

"We are yet to see any real signs of consumers switching between Android and Apple. Our data shows that Apple and Android's customers are intensely loyal when choosing their upgrade. One reason for this is the investment consumers make in their device through apps," he said.

"In France for example, the average iPhone costs €215, and 17% of iPhone owners download more than 10 apps each month. This investment is then lost if they want to choose a different OS as the apps are non-transferable." µ