Android hits quarter-billion device milestone

Google while discussing its latest results revealed that there had been a total of 250 million Android devices activated in the platform's history. It had activated 50 million new devices since the start of the fall. Android Market had itself added another billion in app downloads in just over a month since reaching 10 billion.

Google+ now has 90 million users, Google said, which while much smaller than Facebook has it rapidly growing and proving to be sustainable.

Investors were still disappointed. Google passed $10 billion in revenue for the first time but earned less than the consensus had asked for, at $8.1 billion versus $8.4 billion. One-time expenses for stock compensation may have cut into the expectations for the season.

At 250 million devices, Android will be close behind Apple in lifetime sales. Apple passed that mark in October or earlier. Android is still growing rapidly enough that it's likely to catch up to iOS this year, although the surge in iPhone sales during the fall, the expected iPad update in the early spring, and other wildcards could keep Apple ahead for longer.

By Electronista Staff