In 2011, Android-based smartphones sales’ volumes will overtake those of Symbian based devices 2011 in Western Europe, according to forecasted reports by the IDC Research Company.

Analysts report that in the 3^rd quarter of the current year, Android became the third popular OS in Western Europe with a market share of 23 %. Symbian, which runs on Nokia, ranked in both 1^st and 2^nd place (34%); and Apple (24%). Sales dynamics within the Western European smartphone market show a noticeable shrinking of Symbian shares and iOS driven devices along with simultaneous growth in Android OS shares (from 4% last year to 16% by the third quarter of 2010).

In 2011, Android is set to overtake Symbian and iOS in popularity in Western Europe, reports analyst Francisco Jeronimo in his interview to Bloomberg.

As of 2009, more than half of the Western European market was occupied by Symbian devices, yet their share went considerably down three quarters into the current year. The iPhone enjoys some insignificant growth. Apple smartphones’ share equaled 21% in 2009 and 23 % during the nine months of 2010.

Blackberry OS produced by RIM has a somewhat stable position in Western Europe with 15% last year and 17% in the current year. Windows Mobile devices market share is gradually decreasing. In 2009 it equated to about 8% (higher than Android’s index at the time), three quarters into 2010 it held only 4%. However, it is worth remembering that Microsoft gave up the development of Windows Mobile in favor of Windows Phone 7 which first appeared in October.

This year Android-based devices have already conquered the US and Asian markets, having become the most popular smartphones in these regions, as reported by Nielsen and Gfk research companies. Analysts at Canalys further report that Android became 2^nd popular platform for smartphones in the world in the 3^rd quarter of the current year, overtaking Apple and yielding only to Symbian. Therefore, the latest data from the Western Europe confirm the global tendency. Provided the current trend is maintained, next year Android is quite likely come top of all global competition.

HTC is the most active seller of Android-based devices in Western Europe (39% of all smartphones on this platform). They are followed by Sony Ericsson (27%) and Samsung (14%). The share of the latter went up due to successful sales of Galaxy S, reports Mr. Jeronimo. Fortune reports that Samsung announced selling more than 5 million Android-based Galaxy S smartphones in October (2 million of which were sold in the US). By the end of the year Samsung expects 10-15 million devices to be sold worldwide.

Both Samsung and Sony Ericsson have given up using Symbian OS this year, which made Nokia the only major manufacturer of devices on this platform.

As expected, smartphones will take over half of all mobile sales in Western Europe in 2011 (this year’s index was 35%). The growth in the smartphone’s popularity is seen reflected in overall world trends.