Android is tracking to become the world's second largest mobile OS by market share this year, and to come within a hair's breadth of Symbian by 2014, according to Gartner.
The Google-backed OS, which in 2009 was last among the major mobile operating with a 3.9% share, is expected to grow this to 17.7% of the smartphone market by the end of 2010.
This will compare to a market share of 17.5% for RIM's OS, 15.4% for the Apple iOS, 4.7% for Windows Phone, and 40.1% for market leader Symbian.
But by 2014, Android's share will be 29.6%, compared to Symbian's 30.2%.
Gartner expects 47.6 million Android devices to ship in 2010, compared to 107.6 million Symbian phones, 46.9 million from RIM and 41.5 million iOS devices.
The launch of budget Android devices from manufacturers such as Samsung, Sony Ericsson, LG and Motorola will help nurture growth, and help the platform become the biggest in North America by the end of 2010, the research firm predicted.