"In 3Q-2009, , under the direction of Sanjay Jha, has come out of its corner fighting with a refreshed portfolio," adds practice director Kevin Burden.

"The Droid has received critical acclaim. However Motorola's market-share continued to contract to 3.6 percent."

Sony-Ericsson also experienced a contraction to 4.3 percent but has high hopes that its Android-based handsets will generate renewed interest.

HTC's market share did not fare well early last year, but its circumstances improved slightly in 4Q to 1.0 percent share. Notably, HTC announced a revamped handset portfolio strategy, not just targeting but also launching smartphones that appeal to purchasers with smaller wallets. These low cost "HTC Smart" devices will rely on BREW.