A surge in low-cost smartphone sales, notably in emerging markets, helped the Google Android platform extend its dominance in the second quarter, a survey showed Thursday. The report by market tracker IDC said Android phone sales were up 33 percent over the past year to 255 million units, and accounted for 84.7 percent of all global smartphone sales in the March-June period. The overall market grew 25 percent to 301 million units, IDC said, with Apple, Microsoft Windows and BlackBerry failing to keep pace. "With many of its (manufacturing) partners focusing on the sub-$200 segments, Android has been reaping huge gains within emerging markets," says Ramon Llamas, research manager with IDC.



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