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22 February 2011 - 13:38 AMT

Mobile Tracker: iPhone take-up is waning at UK markets

Apple's iPhone has long been one of the UK's favorite handsets, but its take-up is waning, according to a new mobile tracker from a price comparison website. The new uSwitch.com Mobile Tracker shows HTC dominating the Top 3 while the iPhone slips down to sixth place.

The tracker also shows Android-operated handsets continuing to tighten their stranglehold on the mobile market, with 50% of the most popular mobiles now running on the Google-owned operating system. Plus, following a more consumer-focused Christmas push and some enticing pre-pay deals, the Blackberry Curve has moved up to fourth position in the charts. Meanwhile, supported by free handset deals starting from £20 a month, Samsung's Galaxy S has moved into fifth place.

Number one handset this month – February's chart shows the HTC Desire holding onto the top spot. Launched in October 2010, the handset has been deemed a showcase of the best that the Android operating system has to offer. Biggest climber – the HTC Wildfire climbs into the Top 3. The Wildfire has proved a popular alternative for consumers wanting a piece of HTC's impressive smartphone technology but lacking the budget to shell out for the Desire.

Biggest faller – once at the top of everyone's 'must have' lists, the Apple iPhone 4 has dropped three places since January. It is now number six in the uSwitch.com mobile tracker as Android phones continue to wow cost-conscious consumers, who are also being seduced by the thousands of free smartphone deals available, cellular-news.com reported.