Data released by Nielsen Tuesday claims that the Android OS is now the most popular smartphone operating system among recent buyers, although the BlackBerry OS still holds sway among the installed base.

Data released by Nielsen Tuesday claims that the Android OS is now the most popular smartphone operating system among recent buyers, although the BlackBerry OS still holds sway among the installed base.

Nielsen survey 1,744 recent acquirers of smartphones in August and concluded that 32 percent of them had acquired an Android phone within the last six months. Twenty-six percent had purchased a BlackBerry device, and 25 percent an iPhone.

The data included a full month's worth of iPhone 4 sales.

Nielsen also polled 3,563 people who had owned a smartphone - not purchased one between January 2010 and August 2010. Of this group, the polling agency found that the BlackBerry OS maintained its leadership at 31 percent, but both iOS and Android popularity are climbing. Apple's iOS was the second most popular, at 28 percent of those surveyed, while Nielsen found that Android users represented 19 percent.

At the end of September, ChangeWave also that 37 percent of buyers are considering purchasing an Android device over the next six months, the highest rate the firm has ever recorded.

Last month, Google grew its market share by 5 points to 17 percent in July, enough to oust Microsoft as the third most popular mobile OS. That came several weeks after NPD Group said that as the top mobile OS sold to U.S. consumers in the second quarter.

Recently, that Symbian and Android will become the dominant mobile operating systems by 2014, while iSuppli said by 2012.