Google Android is now the second biggest smartphone operating system, says Gartner.

According to the research firm, more than a quarter (25.5 percent) of all smartphones run Google Android, beaten only by Symbian, which appears of 36.6 percent of all handsets. In the same quarter last year, Symbian accounted for 44.6 percent of all smartphones, while Google Android appeared on just 3.5 percent.

Apple 's iOS has retained third place with 16.7 percent, although that's a slight drop on last quarter's figures, BlackBerry has also dropped users and appears on 14.8 percent of smartphones, putting it in fourth place.

Windows Mobile accounts for just 2.8 percent of smartphones.

"This quarter saw Apple and Android drive record smartphone sales," said Carolina Milanesi, research vice president at Gartner.

"Apple's share of the smartphone market surpassed Research In Motion (RIM) in North America to put it second behind Android while Android volumes also grew rapidly making it the Number two operating system worldwide."

The research firm revealed that smartphone sales have surged and now account for account for 64 percent of all mobile phones sold in the UK.

"This is the third consecutive double-digit increase in sales year-on-year, indicating that consumer demand is healthy."