Orange: Android and iPhone leading the way

British mobile phone customers are getting smarter, Orange UK has suggested.

It was recently revealed by ABI Research that a whopping 25 per cent more smartphones were shipped in the final three months of 2009 than the previous quarter.

And Anthony Keyworth, director of product marketing for Orange UK, agreed that people have been going gaga over top-of-the-range gadgets, such as those that run on Google’s Android operating system and the iPhone.

Why?

Because of huge progress that has been made in the technology in these handsets.

"Networks now – whether that’s Wi-Fi or cellular – are so much more prevalent, which enables people to interact with other people in a real-time way, which they’ve never been able to do before," he said.

In addition, he explained the draw of useful and easy-to-use apps has also driven the rise of the smartphone.

"As you know there are thousands of applications around at the moment and in many respects people are spoilt for choice, but with the way people can interact with [them] you get the cream rising to the top," Mr Keyworth stated.

Examples of these extremely popular programs, of course, include interfaces for accessing social network websites.

And it would certainly seem he’s right when he says they have given the smartphone a boost.

According to ComScore, the number of people logging onto Facebook through a mobile browser grew by a huge 112 per cent in the year leading up to January, while Twitter saw a massive 347 per cent increase.

What do you look for in a smartphone?